Camp Pendalouan

Summer Camp Fun For the Whole Family... IN THE DEAD OF WINTER!

2012-01-28T17:09:00.001-05:00

Greetings from Beautiful Big Blue Lake!

It may be windy, icy and brisk outside, but in just 140 days, we'll be hearing canoe paddles in the water, buddy check whistles and other great sounds of summer. We always miss summer camp the most when the snow starts to fall and the lake freezes over. But luckily there are ways to keep the magic of summer camp alive in the winter months as well! Here is a list of campy activities and games that kids can do in the winter when missing summer camp:

Foil Dinners! On Tuesday nights during Summer Camp here at Pendalouan, every cabin enjoys a yummy Foil Dinner cooked over a fire. But did you know that you can also make these delicious meals in your own kitchen? All you need is tin foil, butter, potatoes, veggies, & seasonings! Check out one recipe here!
Go on a hike with family and friends! Here at Pendalouan our favorite hiking destination is Sleepy Hollow, but West Michigan is full of beautiful places to hike! Click here for a link to West Michigan’s State Parks.
Write Letters! At Camp, everyone loves getting letters at mail time, but why should it only be a summertime occurrence? Our campers are encouraged during the school year to write the friends they made the previous summer. And we even allow campers to send mail to counselors! All they have to do is send a letter addressed to their Counselor with Camp’s address. We’ll make sure they get it! But why stop there! Kids can also be encouraged to send mail to their grandparents and other relatives!
Organize a game of Scatterball. Scatterball is a classic Camp Pendalouan game. It is like dodgeball, but with no teams. The ball is thrown up in the air to start the game and then it becomes an all vs. all dodgeball game. Once you get the ball, you can take three steps and then you HAVE to throw it. If you get hit, you have to sit in “Jail.” But if the person who got you out gets out, you are back in! The last person standing WINS!
Make a Scavenger Hunt Around the House or Neighborhood. Camp Pendalouan is no stranger to Scavenger Hunts. We have Scavenger Hunts during our Mt. Biking & Nature Classes, they are a part of our All Camp Games, and sometimes counselors will put one together specifically for their cabin! Making a scavenger hunt with clues that ends up with a note with a special announcement (like a Certificate for A Week at Summer Camp) or a special treat (like a favorite snack) would be a great way to bring a little bit of Summer Camp back home!
Have a Living Room Campout! This activity can be for anyone, young and old, returning or new campers! It may not be quite the same as sleeping under the starts, but it still is a fun way to bond as a family or for kids to do with their friends. Grab your sleeping bags and lay them out in the living room. Instead of turning on the TV, make a fire out of construction paper and grab a few books for telling and sharing stories! And if you get hungry, you can always…
Make Smores! While this is a great Living Room Campout activity, it is also a snack that can be enjoyed anytime! You can microwave the marshmallow instead of roasting it over the fire. It’s almost just as good!
Spread the Pendalouan Spirit! During our closing campfire on Thursday nights, we talk about the Pendalouan Spirit, which is made up of the four core values of honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility and the Camp Motto of “I’m Third.” We share instances from the prior week where we saw the Pendalouan Spirit in action and we challenge our campers to spread the spirit at home with friends when they leave camp and throughout the school year. Sharing these values and the camp motto is probably our FAVORITE way to keep the magic of camp alive during the non-summer months.

We hope this YMCA Camp Pendalouan list gives you and your family some great idea of ways to experience a little bit of Summer Camp during these cold winter months! Feel free to add to the list in the comments section!

YMCA Camp Pendalouan is a fully accredited resident and day camp. While at Pendalouan, kids and teens make friends, create life long memories, and learn new skills all the while having fun in a safe environment. At Pendalouan, you are a part of a family and campers are lead by highly qualified and trained staff. We are currently nearing the end of our January Promotion in which we’ll provide you with a free long sleeve Pendalouan T-Shirt if you sign up for summer camp before February 1^st. If you would like to learn more about Camp Pendalouan, check out our website, the Camp Blog and our Facebook page.

We Couldn't Have Done It Without You!

2012-01-16T09:34:00.000-05:00

A Successful End to Our Year-End Campaign

We are happy to announce the successful completion of our 2011 Year-End Campaign!

Smashing our goal of $5,000, we ended up raising a record $15,796 for our Campership Fund! Because of this, many children, who otherwise would not have been able, will experience a week at Pendalouan. This could not have happened without the generous support of our alumni, parents, and friends of Pendalouan and we dearly thank those who donated. While the focus of our Year-End Campaign is camperships, we continue to accept donations year-round for our Campership Fund, as well as capital projects and programming/facility needs.

In the Spirit of Pendalouan,

Bruce Spoelman, Executive Director
YMCA Camp Pendalouan

It's Time To Start Thinking About Summer 2012!

2012-01-11T17:33:00.001-05:00

That's right folks! Summer 2012 is only 157 days away!

Are you signed up for Summer Camp at Pendalouan, yet?

No? Well here's some incentive:

If you sign up for Summer Camp 2012 before January 31st, we'll give you ONE OF OUR NEW LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRTS FOR FREE!

Our stylish new long sleeve t-shirts

Pendalouan Traditions: Camp Songs!

2012-01-05T13:26:00.000-05:00

We are starting a new series on Pendalouan Traditions! This is the first post about Camp Songs! Future posts will be about ceremonies, rituals, the camp motto, and more! Enjoy!

Camp wouldn't be camp without songs! Singing has been an integral part of camping since in start in the mid-to-late 1800s and, while the nature of the songs has changed with the times, the central place that singing has at camp is still alive and well today in 2012!

Here at YMCA Camp Pendalouan, we sing all day long. We sing in the early morning before breakfast, we sing at Chapel, we sing after meals, we sing at campfires, and we sing at night before bed. We love singing! On Thursday Nights in the summer, we even have a SONGFEST on Thursday evenings before Closing Campfire!

What do we sing? It depends on the time of day.

In the morning, after flag raising, we make our way to the beach and sing "Good Morning Mr. Zip Zip" across the lake to Mr. Zip Zip - the retired postman who lives on the other side of Big Blue Lake. Sometimes he even comes out in his red longjohns and waves hello!

On Cookout Day/ Extended Cabin Activity Night, we sing our TAPS songs before Dinner.

Then we have our hundreds of fun and entertaining "Camp" songs like "3 Blind Jellyfish," "My Dog Lima," "The Princess Pat," "An Austrian Went Yodeling," and "Boom Chicca Boom" which we sing when we have down time, at our Opening Campfire and Songfest, and after meals.

At night, right after snack and right before flag lowering, we have our TAPS time, which is when we gather as a camp on the steps of the lodge or at Wildwood Chapel and sing slower songs like "One Tin Solider," "Blowin in the Wind," or "Country Roads."

And then we have our Camp Song Mainstays: "Hail Pendalouan," "On The Loose," and "I Was Pendalouan Born" (this one is only two years old!). These songs reportedly are the songs that really connect campers and alums emotionally with Pendalouan.

Singing has always been and always will be a part of the Pendalouan Camp experience. When campers come home from summer camp, often the first thing they want to do is share their favorite camp songs with their parents. When alumni from decades out come back to camp, they still remember the songs they sang on the shores of Big Blue Lake.

What is YOUR favorite camp song? We'd love to hear!

Singing "One Tin Solider" before heading down to the Sandlot to lower the flag.

With only 163 days till Summer 2012, we're going to keep singing our camp songs, prepping for what is bound to be the best summer yet. We hope you join us in song!

This post is the first of a series on camp traditions. Be on the lookout for more posts in the coming months on other camp traditions! If you have any questions about our Summer Camp Programs or would like to register, call our office at (231) 894-4538.

2011 Year In Review!

2011-12-29T11:51:00.000-05:00

What a year 2011 was for YMCA Camp Pendalouan! We provided high quality character-building and outdoor education programs to over 6,000 campers, we had record numbers in some of our seasonal and family programs and we continued to connect with our friends and alumni.

Winter
The first few months of 2011 were characterized by having some wonderful school groups come out to camp for a winter outdoor education experience! In addition to enjoying our year-round classes and activities we provide, these school groups had the added benefit of enjoying our winter activities such as cross country skiing, our toboggan run, and broomball on the frozen lake.

Spring
But eventually the snow melted and winter turned to spring. In the spring, we had even more school groups come in and we were thrilled to be able to work with so many great groups of teachers, students and parents. In the Spring we also had our “Spring Break Escape” Day Camp and our two Open Houses for those who wanted to get a feel of what Pendalouan is all about.

Summer

Summer is Pendalouan’s busiest time of the year and for good reason! Our summer staff join us early for an intense week of Staff Orientation/Training and then we are going, going, going for 6 weeks straight of Summer Camp Fun. It was an amazing summer! We also welcomed Special Days Camps for the first two weeks in August. In addition to our Resident Camps and Day Camps, the summer is when our Mom & Kids Camp, our Family Camp, and our Father-Son Camp take place. What a blast those all were!

Fall

As summer came to a close, the school year started up again and we focused again on our Outdoor Education Programs. School groups ventured in the outdoors with us and grew in our unique learning environment. In addition to our OE programs, we also welcomed over 100 alumni & friends back to camp for Pendalouan Day, had a great group of women for Women’s Adventure Weekend, and had record high numbers for our Halloween Camp. What a great Fall! We also capped our year off with our Year End Campaign. Since we have a few more days until 2012, the campaign hasn’t ended yet, but as soon as it does, we’ll let you know the results!

And now, as 2011 wraps up, we are busy thinking about how to make 2012 the best year yet for Pendalouan. We already have some excited things planned for 2012 including a cool new T-Shirt Promotion, some awesome additions to our summer camp programs, and some innovative Alumni initiatives. Do you have any ideas on how we can make 2012 the best year yet for Pendalouan? If, so let us know! Email pendalouan@gmail.com with your ideas.

Now the fun part… Resolutions! Some of our 2012 New Year's Resolutions:

To continue to offer high quality programs to those who walk through our door
To continue to grow in Mind, Body and Spirit as an organization and to facilitate that growth in those we service
To constantly work to improve communication with parents
To find more ways to share the Pendalouan experience with even more children
To find and reconnect with alumni who we’ve lost contact with

Thanks to everyone who made 2011 such a success and we look forward to seeing you in 2012!
Happy New Year!

Our 2011 Year-End Campaign

2011-12-14T12:23:00.000-05:00

Even though we don't yet have snow on the ground, we here at YMCA Camp Pendalouan never stop working on Summer Camp! We are already hiring staff, having summer planning meetings, and buying supplies for Summer 2012!

One aspect of summer camp that we work on 12 months a year is our Campership Fund. We are often asked by Alumni & Friends, "How can we help Pendalouan?" And while there are many ways to help out camp (volunteering your time, energy, supplies, etc.), one of the ways that people often like to participate is by sharing the magic of Pendalouan with children who can't afford it.

Right now we are currently in the middle of our Year-End Campaign for our Campership Fund. You may have gotten something in your mailbox or inbox about it (if not it means we may not have your current contact info!).

Our goal is to raise $5,000 by the end of the year. All proceeds will go directly into our Campership Fund, which helps get kids to camp who otherwise wouldn't be able.

Would you be willing to make a contribution to our Campership Fund? Any amount makes a difference, even $10.00. However, the first 50 people to donate $75 or more will receive a 2012 Pendalouan Calendar, featuring some of our favorite Camp Pendalouan photos. There still are Calendars left, so if you are interested in receiving one of these, donate soon!

There are several ways to donate. You can donate online by clicking here. You can give us a call [(231) 894-4538] and make a donation over the phone. Or you can send in a check (Memo line: Year End Campaign) to the following address:

YMCA Camp Pendalouan
1243 E Fruitvale Rd.
Montague, MI 49437

We appreciate your time, energy, and consideration as we continue to help provide a Pendalouan experience to all children who need it.

Hail Pendalouan!

We are extremely grateful for all of our Alumni & Friends who support YMCA Camp Pendalouan in many different ways. If you are interested in volunteering your time and energy, or would like to donate money or supplies for any of our year-round programs, give us a call at (231) 894-4538.

Check Those Off The Wishlist! New Basketball Backboards!

2011-12-06T17:00:00.000-05:00

Tis the season of giving! As we all get ready for the holiday season by preparing gifts for family and friends, we here at Pendalouan are so grateful for all our friends and alumni.

Earlier this fall, we published our Wishlist right here on the camp blog. The Wishlist is compiled for the community as a public list that shows what camp's current needs are. Many families and individuals prefer to give towards a specific project or to donate items instead of cash.

One of these families is the extended family of Emily Adama. Emily was a 7 year camper in the 90s. In addition to working as a Summer Staff member in 2005, she has recently helped Pendalouan as an occasional Outdoor Education Instructor. This year, after looking at our Wishlist, Emily talked to her family and they decided to donate two new basketball backboards to camp for Christmas!

We caught up with Emily to talk about her family's donation.

Camp Pendalouan: What is your family's connection to Pendalouan?
Emily: I was a dedicated summer camper from ages 7 to 14, to me it was a place of joy and wonder, friends and imagination, adventure and challenge. My memories of camp have always inspired me to creatively seek the best out of life and people. My older brother came to camp as a thirteen year old - he remembers this time as one of the best weeks EVER as a young fella. My Mom has been a big supporter of camp both by sending me and my brother, but also by financially supporting other campers to go.

From left to right is Paul, Emily, Aaron, "Rusty Pony", Jeanne, Anna and little Elijah.

CP: How did your family come to the decision to donate to camp?
Emily: My family has been trying to change the way we do Christmas for several years, we realized that we just don't need more stuff, that there are plenty of people who do, and that we have the resources to make that happen. It takes a little more planning and effort, but the result on Christmas morning when we creatively share about our project and what we accomplished together is way more meaningful than opening up presents that will probably end up in the trash.

CP: Why did you decide to give to Pendalouan, as opposed to elsewhere?
Emily: The great thing about giving to camp is that we feel personally connected to it, both because of the impact it's had on my life, but also because we see the great need for future generations to be exposed to what camp has to offer. We want my nephews to be able to enjoy camp!

Our Current Basketball Hoops. We are excited to get new ones that will provide a better basketball experience for our campers.

CP: How did you choose basketball backboards?
Emily: My family is BIG into basketball, we love the game, so the backboards were a natural choice, and I'm pretty sure the backboards have been the same since I was a camper. The wishlist made it easy to know that our giving was going directly to a real need and have a real impact on the lives of campers.

Thank you so much to the Adama/Papes Family for providing camp with TWO NEW Basketball Backboards! The matching backboards will be used for years to come!

We are currently in the middle of our Year-End Campaign. If you or someone you know is interested in donating items from our Wishlist or cash to purchase these items, take a look at our giving page on our website or contact Bruce Spoelman, Executive Director, at bspoelman@pendalouan.com or call the office at (231) 894-4538.

"Because of Pendalouan..."

2011-11-30T11:56:00.004-05:00

There is no doubt that a camp experience can make a major difference in a child's life. In fact, when Alumni call us up or stop by for a visit, often the first thing they want to share with us is the impact that Pendalouan had on their lives.

A few years ago, the American Camping Association created a video titled "Because of Camp." This video featured successful people commenting about the impact camp had on their lives. The video can be seen below.

At Pendalouan Day 2011, we decided to ask our alumni & friends to share some of their thoughts on how camp has affected their lives. We also posted the question on our Facebook Question of the Week. Below are some of the responses. Enjoy!

BECAUSE OF PENDALOUAN...

"...I know that no child should go without at least one summer of camp."
Abby Hollinhead
former camper

"...I am a better parent than I would have been."
Mandi Garvey
former staff member

"...I am a "whole" person. :-)"
Lindsey DeLuca
former camper and staff

"...I've learned to be myself, and to respect other people."
Riley Grunow
current camper

"...I have not only come to appreciate and love the camp experience, but over the years I have become a better individual. I've become a better role model, leader, teacher, student, sister, and friend. I've come to truly appreciate life and all it has to offer, and I've met many amazing people and friends along the way. So thanks Camp Pendalouan, and here is to many more years of life changing experiences! :)"
Elizabeth Marks
former camper and staff member

“...we learned teamwork, we learned how to make friends. The thing that has stuck in my mind all the way through, was – and it’s more from Pendalouan than Emery - was I’m Third. And as I grew up, I always remembered God First, The Other Guy Second, and I’m Third.”
Judy Evans
Camp Emery Alum, Parent and Grandparent of Pendalouan Campers

"...I learned how to be responsible for my actions and how they would impact others, how to work, how to have a job. I learned how something so small can have such a great impact on someone else in a good way and a bad way. And I learned how to make mistakes and how to learn from them. I think that's the greatest thing I learned here - how to make mistakes and it's okay to make mistakes. And I leanred how to teach kids that friendship is the most important thing you could ever have in your life."
Kalin Franks
former staff member

"...I learned a lot about teamwork because in life you have to work together as a team."
Katie Wampler
former camper/CIT

"...I am who I am today. It made such an impact on my life. I'd hate to think about not having those years here at camp."
Jim Toth
former staff

"...I am much more respectful, honest, caring and responsible. I am more patient, I understand compassion and empathy. I have made lifelong friends. I appreciate small things like finding a turtle. I appreciate the Seasons. I know who Black Elk of the Oglala Sioux is. I understand what it means to be completely exhausted, warn out, unshowered and still greet parents on a Friday with a smile even bigger than the one presented on Sunday (because I always fall in love with my campers). My love of photography started at camp, my love of climbing started at camp. Because of Pendalouan I know that I can go further, run harder, wake up earlier, push my limits above and beyond anything. I also understand what others are capable of, how far others will push themselves with a little motivation. Children (and adults!) can do big big things with the right resources and a big smiling engaged counselor cheering them on the whole time. Camp is so so good."
Dom Paschal
former camper and staff

“...I learned how to take care of myself and other people. I learned how to be on time for stuff. That’s kind of a big one. I mean I could really go on all day. I think just learning how to be myself and treat other people.”
Tim Mathieu
former camper and staff

"...I am a teacher!"

Debbie (Shivle) Ykhlef
former camper and staff

"...I am going to get my Masters in teaching."
Meredith Freeney
former camper and staff

“...I learned how valuable friendships are, how valuable a day can be. I had a foundation. For me it’s like bedrock. I was here as an adolescent and I could have gone one way or the other, but Pendalouan gave me a great base and it was really the people of Pendalouan as much as the place.”
Mik DeBoef
former camper and staff

Many thanks to all who answered! And don't forget to check out our current question of the week by clicking here.

Do YOU have a "Because of Pendalouan..." story to share? If so, please email Pendalouan@gmail.com and we'll compile it for another post when we get enough responses! We love hearing from our camp families, alumni and friends, so please do not hesitate to contact us!

Camp Newsletters: A Pendalouan Tradition!

2011-11-17T10:15:00.001-05:00

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT! NEW EDITION OF SMOKE SIGNALS

COMES OUT!

That's right! You heard correctly. The camp newsletter, Smoke Signals, is back!

Pictured: Two Camp Newsletters from our Past: A Smoke Signals from 1999, and a Lone Pine from 1983.

YMCA Camp Pendalouan has a long history of providing camp newsletters. And we are excited to announce the revitalization and reissuing of our Camp Newsletter, Smoke Signals!

From as far back as we can remember, Pendalouan has had some sort of newsletter. But the various versions have differed in terms of how frequent they came out, who they were targeted towards, etc. For example, the Smoke Signals of the 60s were produced at the end of each camp session and were given to each camper with a list of names and addresses of campers and staff.

We've also, from time to time, switched the name and format of our newsletters. Deep in our archives, we found a call for campers to write in what they think the name of the newsletter should be. The finalists are seen in the image below (for a clearer image, click the list).
In the 1980s, Pendalouan had The Lone Pine, which was named after a Giant Pine that towered above every other tree on Big Blue Lake. (The tree was later brought down by Boy Scouts, for some wonderful thoughts/descriptions of the Lone Pine, take a look at former Pendalouan Director Daryl Sieplinga and Jack Winans' articles in this 1983 issue of The Lone Pine.

Nowadays, we have two Camp Newsletters: 1) The Pendalouan Press, which is written by our Newspaper Class every week during summer camp (Next summer, we'll be posting those online - Be on the lookout!) and 2) Smoke Signals, which will comes out 4 times a year and recently was sent out in the mail and electronically last week.

Are you subscribed to our Alumni & Friends newsletter?!?! Our next Smoke Signals is set to come out in February 2012. In order to make sure you stay connected and receive a copy of the newsletter, click here and fill out the easy form.

Happy Reading!

Our Camp Newsletter,Smoke Signals, is one of Pendalouan's traditions that we are excited to bring back and continue. Do you have any old Pendalouan newsletters that you would be willing to donate for our archives? Any memories about Smoke Signals or other newsletters? If so, please email pendalouan@gmail.com or call the office at (231) 894-4538.

Camp Books!

2011-11-11T03:45:00.000-05:00

Picture of Volunteer Counselor, Nia Gillenwater. Photo courtesy of the Muskegon Chronicle.

Yesterday was the first day of snow here at camp, which means the cold season is not too far away (not to mention the holidays, but let wait until after Thanksgiving for that) One great thing to do in the winter is curl up with a good book in warm clothes, a blanket and maybe hot cocoa! As you curl up in the cold months, why not think about summer? There are several books out there that focus around the experiences of youngsters (and older folks too!) at camp. Here are a few that we've either read or heard about:

For the Kids
Off To Camp by Myra Pravda and Jeanne Weiland, JSP Publishing
A young girl named Samantha decides to head off to overnight camp! This book was written by two nurses who have worked in camping who believe that "a child should be prepared for an overnight camp experience." This book may help!

Lights Out!: Kids Talk About Summer Camp by Eric Arnold, Jeff Loeb
The editors of this book spent a summer interviewing kids at camps in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The campers' observations, broken down into such categories as "Why I Went to Camp," "Camp Food" and "Parents Day," give readers a great peek into real-life camp experiences.

The Great Summer Camp Catastrophe by Jean Van Leeuwen
Three mice living in Macy's department store accidentally arrive at a Vermont summer camp, where they have fun and fantastic adventures including fleeing from an owl, matching wits with a dog, and learning to water-ski. Can they stop having fun long enough to return home to New York?

It's Off to Camp, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz
This collection of comics features the classic Peanuts gang in outdoor situations and in camp scenarious!

For Young Adults
Cabin Pressure: One Man's Desperate Attempt to Recapture His Youth as a Camp Counselor by Josh Wolk
This lighthearted book chronicles one man's attempt to recapture his youth as a camp counselor. Josh returns to his beloved boys' camp in New England for the second time as a counselor, but as an adult now. This most recent return occurs the summer before he is to marry while he takes time off between jobs. His adult perspective provides new insights to lessons learned as a young counselor.

For Adults
Camp by Michael D. Eisner
This memoir by the former CEO of Disney provides one successful business man's story about the impact camp made on his life. In it, he tells in own tale, while weaving in the stories of two scholarship kids that he helped get to camp in the early 2000s.

Camp Camp: Where Fantasy Island Meets Lord of the Flies by Roger Bennett and Jules Shell
This humorous, adult-focused book is a compilation of photos and stories from the camper's perspectives. The authors solicited camp stories for a good chunk of time before piecing them together for this hilarious book. The book does well at providing a good idea of camp culture. Chapters include: "Letter Writing," "Camp Romance," "Counselors," "Camp Fire," "The Last Night."

P.S. I Hate It Here! Kids Letters From Camp Edited by Diane Falanga
This collection of 150 real letters written by children ages eight to sixteen to their parents about their adventures at summer camp are laugh-out-loud funny and will have readers laughing and reminiscing about their own camp days. The letters cover several scenarios of sleep away camp, from acing the cabin lice inspection, to breaking the bad news about a retainer lost in the wilderness.

We hope this book list provides you with a few ideas for books to cuddle up read this winter or to give as gifts this holiday season! What other camp books have you read, do you recommend to the Pendalouan Community?

Halloween Camp! What Spooktacular Fun!

2011-11-01T10:25:00.006-04:00

Last weekend, Pendalouan welcomed 90 children to camp for our annual Halloween Camp! Our Halloween Camp went for 24 hours and included dinner on Friday, and Breakfast and Lunch on Saturday.

Friday night was a real treat! After settling into their cabins and eating a delicious dinner of worms and eyeball sauce, zombie fingers, and racoon toenails (spaghetti & meatballs, breadsticks, green beans), cabins took turns making their way through our haunted health lodge. The scare-factor was adjusted to each age level as to make sure our younger campers were not too frightened. Cabin groups also had time to work together and prepare a skit or song for campfire! We had cabins perform spooky versions of their favorite camp songs and creative skits involving vampires, werewolves and witches!

On Saturday, after breakfast, campers were able to choose between Archery, Climbing Wall, Candle-Making, BB Guns and a Sleepy Hollow Hike during our Rendezvous Choice-Time. Before lunch we also played an all camp game where kids tried to save Halloween from Dentists who were trying to get rid of the holiday! After lunch, we played a game of Capture the Ghost! Instead of our usual Red & Blue bandanas on our CTF poles, we had red and blue ghosts!

After changing into their costumes, campers trick 0r treated around camp at various locations and met up to finish their stay with a Halloween Carnival around the lodge. Games included: Musical Chairs to Halloween Classics, Pin the Wart on the Witch, Pumpkin Bozo Buckets, and more.

Thanks to all who could make it! Check back on our facebook soon for more pictures! If you didn't get the chance to come this past year, make sure to mark your Calendar for next year to guarantee a spooktacular good time!

Halloween Camp is one of our seasonal camps. You can see a full list of our seasonal camps by clicking here. Our next seasonal camp is our Spring Break Escape, a day camp during Spring Break. You can find more information about that here. If you have any questions, please call the office at (231) 894-4538.

Halloween Camp! October 28th-October 29th

2011-10-20T10:26:00.000-04:00

Halloween Camp is less than two weeks away! Have you signed up yet? It's not too late! YMCA Camp Pendalouan's Halloween Camp is a 24 hour stayover camp full of costumes, spooks, and Halloween fun.

Campers arrive on Friday at 5pm, enjoy a camp dinner, and launch into a frightful scavenger hunt before enjoying a campfire!

On Saturday, campers enjoy a morning of traditional camp activities like Archery, Riflery, Crafts, and our climbing wall. Did I mention we also do a game of Capture the Flag? In the afternoon, we offer a sleepy hollow hike, open boating, and other activities. We end the day with a Halloween Carnival full of fun spooky activities!

Enjoy these photos from last year's Halloween Camp! And see below for information on how you can sign up for Halloween Camp 2011!

Two 2010 Campers showing off their Costumes.

Not exactly your typical Cabin Photo!

Our staff LOVE dressing up in costumes! No wonder this event is so fun.

Halloween Camp is one of our favorite seasonal events of the year! This 24 hour camp starts on Friday, October 28th at 5pm and goes until 5:00pm on Saturday, October 29th. This event is for grades K-8. The Fee is $60/person. Want to register or have questions? Call the office at (231) 894-4538. You can also register online here.

A Weekend With Alumni & Friends!

2011-10-18T10:09:00.012-04:00

What an amazing weekend we had here at Pendalouan! This past Saturday, over 100 Alumni & Friends of YMCA Camp Pendalouan made their way back to the shores of Big Blue Lake to gather together and share memories, stories and laughs while showing their families what Camp here at Pendalouan is all about.

There were memory displays in the lodge with old camper handbooks, photos, newspaper articles, staff manuals, camp newsletters, craft projects, and other mementos for alums and friends to peruse. We also had a slide show full of trivia and more recent photos from the past few summers. In addition to the slide show, we also projected some of Eddie's old films. We played video clips from 1964, 1970, and 1982. What treasures those films are!

Throughout the day, there were open activities, camp tours, and a warm fire with cider and donuts in the lodge. Before dinner, we also had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the re-dedication of the Sugar Shack and a short presentation about Pendalouan's Past, Present and Future by Bruce Spoelman, Executive Director.

After a delicious camp meal and ice cream sundae dessert, we made our way to Great Bear Fire Circle where we had a multi-generational campfire! It was great seeing kids of former counselors and current campers lead songs side by side.

One of our side projects for the weekend was raising money for fences. Many of our old split-rail fences are worn down and need replacing. With the help of our Alumni and Friends, we raised over 230 feet of fence! Thanks so much to all who donated! What a great cherry on top to a wonderful event!

If you could not join us, but would like to learn more about what happened at Pendalouan Day, hear about ways to be involved in future Alumni & Friends events or volunteer projects, please email pendalouan@gmail.com or call the office at (231) 894-4538.

Fall at Camp: Busy as Bees!

2011-10-11T14:37:00.011-04:00

Camp has been busy, busy, busy! We have been wrapping up Father-Son Camp and Women's Adventure Weekend, preparing for Pendalouan Day, getting ready for Halloween Camp, and teaching hundreds of students in our Outdoor Education Programs!

In previous posts, we recapped our Father-Son Camp and our Women's Adventure Weekend. But would you believe it if we told you that we are already getting calls and registrations for Family Camp 2012! That's right! Attendees from Family Camp 2011 and these other two family-centered camps are getting their registrations in soon, because they know that space is limited.

With Pendalouan Day only four days away, we have been getting volunteers, calling alums, digging out old staff paddles, gathering up old pictures and mementos and getting ready for welcoming more than 120 alumni and friends back to the shores of Big Blue Lake! One highlight has been going through old footage that Eddie Boersema took in the 60s, 70s, & 80s! An alum has graciously donated his time and energy to converting the old 16mm films to DVD. What a treat it has been to see this priceless old footage. We plan on showing some of it during the big event!

We've also been planning our annual Halloween Camp! Expect a whole post dedicated to this wonderfully spooky 24-hour event for campers in the coming week.

School groups have also been out to camp by the busload! Hundreds of students have already come out to camp and learned about Local Native and Pioneer History, the Michigan Fur and Lumber Trades, Food Chains and Food Webs, how to use a compass, and working on their team building skills, among other things! We've had a blast with these groups and we can't wait for them to return in the spring or next year year!

Throughout all this, the trees have been swaying, the leaves have been changing, and the weather has been pleasant. What a wonderful time of year at camp! We hope you can find a way to enjoy it! Call the office at (231) 894-4538 to find a way to get out here before the leaves all fall!

Our Annual Wishlist!

2011-10-04T17:52:00.008-04:00

Every year at about this time, we are asked to compile our Annual Wishlist for the community. This year, we've compiled our Top 50 items that Pendalouan could benefit from.

We are putting our wishlist out on the blog so that maybe if YOU have one of these items you can help us out! If you think you're able to help camp acquire anything on the Wishlist please contact us at the office at (231) 894-4538!

Without further ado...

"Camp Pendalouan's Wishlist"

Priceless
Any Pendalouan relics such as:
Handbooks
Staff or camper autographed plaques and canoe paddles
Copies of photos with names
Brochures
Movies
Slides
Emblems

Under $50
Digital Picture Frame
Ceramic mugs
Compasses
Wooden canoe paddles, any size, whole or broken
Silverware/flatware
Sand toys
Waterproof tarps, any size
Giftcards to Sam’s club, Gordon Food Service, Best Buy, Office Depot, Office Max, Meijer
Adult Sized Costumes (e.g. Gorilla Suit)
Hand Tools
Board games
Office Supplies
Skateboard helmets

Under $100
White boards
Vacuum cleaners
Parachute
Rugs
External hard drive

Under $500
Rototiller
Portable shade structures
Tents
Push Lawnmower
New basketball backboards and hoops

Under $5,000
Industrial Floor Scrubber
Kayaks
New Industrial Washer and Dryer
Wood splitter
MacBook
Riding Lawnmower
4wd Utility Vehicle
Jetski

Other
7-passenger (or more) minivan
Pickup Truck
Monetary Donation for Camperships
Monetary Donation for Facility Improvements
Montetary Donation for Property Acquisition

Facility Projects Needing Funding
Fences ($2.00 per foot)
New Picnic Tables
Paddle boats
Light poles
Luggage pavilion (~$8,000)
Erosion control
Boardwalk along shoreline
Deck for Pawnee Cabin
Replace Climbing Wall
Replace Zipline
Outdoor Wood burning Furnace
Hydapipe showers ($450.00)
CIT Area Cabin/Housing
Wood Fencing for Horse Area
Ropers and Wranglers Cabin

We hope you can help us out! Have a great rest of your week!

Do you think you can help us out? If so, please contact us in the office at (231) 894-4538 or email Bruce, Executive Director, at bspoelman@pendalouan.org. You can also make a payment online by checking out our giving website.

Friends & Fun at Women's Adventure Weekend 2011

2011-09-27T08:54:00.012-04:00

This past weekend, a group of over 20 women, with ages ranging from the 20s to the 80s, gathered at Camp Pendalouan for a weekend of outdoor activities, memory making, and relaxation.

The weekend started off on Friday with a low key evening in the lodge. The group of women played some fun team-building games to get to know each other a little better. There were so

many smiles and a lot of laughter!

While Friday was relaxing, Sunday was a jam-packed day of activity and adventure! Several women tried their hand on our zipline, climbing wall, and high ropes course. Many commented that it was fun to try the activity that their kids had done while at Pendalouan for Outdoor Education or Summer Camp. Our archery and riflery ranges were also open to enjoy shooting bows and arrows or our air-soft rifles. Another highlight of the day was the canoe trip down the White River - a beautiful trip down a winding, but calm river not too far from camp.

In the evening, there was a Craft Fair in the lodge! The group of women - having bonded quite a bit after 24 hours of fun, laughter and activities - bounced between making journals, bookmarks, Halloween decorations to bring back to the family, while enjoying each other's company and hand-dipped caramel apples.

The schedule allowed for as much or as little participation as participants wanted and there were always opportunities to enjoy our boating and swim areas whenever they pleased. One daring group of women decided to do a "Rejuvenation Dip" in the early morning on Sunday. (sounds a lot like our Polar Bear Swim during the Summer!

Even with such a plethora of activities, the weekend was relaxing and so much fun! New friends, new memories, great times! We can't wait for Women's Adventure Weekend 2012!

Women's Adventure Weekend is one of Pendalouan's Family-Oriented Camps. In addition to Women's Adventure Weekend, we also have a Mom & Kids Camp, a Family Camp, and a Father-Son Camp during the Summer. For more information on any of these camps, contact the Pendalouan Office at Ycamp@pendalouan.org or (231) 894-4538.

A Recap of Pendalouan Day 2010

2011-09-20T11:25:00.006-04:00

Time to go back in time... to 2010! As Pendalouan Day 2011 gets closer and closer, we thought it would be good to recap last year's Pendalouan Day! So without further ado... let's go back to Pendalouan Day 2010...

Pendalouan Day 2010 was a huge success! We had alums from over 20 years present, spanning over 50 years! Red Heeres, former Waterfront Director from 1957-60 shared powerful words at the re-dedication ceremony for Wildwood Chapel, a definite highlight to the weekend.

Other highlights included camp tours, open activities (climbing wall, boating, archery, etc), and the showing of a newly created Camp Pendalouan Memory Video (see below).

A good handful of families decided to go for the full camp experience by spending the night in a cabin, enjoying a multi-generational Pendalouan campfire, breakfast, and a chapel service in the morning.

Just a few of the Pendalouan Alum's that made the trip out; Jason Bertoia, Craig Lytle, Matthew Abel, Dominique Paschal, Dasha Dokshina, Barb & Shannon Gimenes, Brian Fedewa, Shelley Lewis, Jay & Sandy Wright, Mik DeBoef, Nancy Crandall, Jeff Mayberry, Dionel & Rob Jennings, Paul Spoelman, John Leitner, Mark & Stacy Luckey, Steve Leafers, Betty Johnson, Roger Hoffman, Dick Baker, Herb Driver, Matt Sheick, Don Potter and Jeff Cooke. This is just a fraction of the people who joined us, hopefully you recognize a few of these names!

Are you an alum or friend of Pendalouan? Join us for Pendalouan Day 2011? Pendalouan Day/Alumni Weekend is on OCTOBER 15TH, 2011. See the previous blogpost for more information. Please register by October 10th to pendalouan@gmail.com. If youhave any questions, feel free to call camp at (231) 894-4538. We look forward to seeing you!

Announcing... PENDALOUAN DAY 2011

2011-09-13T07:33:00.001-04:00

Have you heard the news...? It's coming! What is coming?

A way to get back and relive some special camp moments.
A chance to reconnect with old camp friends.
An opportunity to discover camp improvements.

It's...

PENDALOUAN DAY 2011!

That's right! Pendalouan Day/Alumni Weekend 2011 is coming up soon on OCTOBER 15TH, 2011. Pendalouan Day is your chance to reconnect with this special place and other friends & alumni of Pendalouan. If you consider yourself a friend or alum of Pendalouan, we welcome you to join us - no matter your affiliation!

Open Activities will start at 2:00pm and will include archery, boating, the climbing wall, a hike to Sleepy Hollow and other fun options. We will offer several camp tours, a presentation on camp improvements, and dinner!

If you'd like to extend your stay, feel free to spend a night in one of our cabins Saturday evening and enjoy breakfast and chapel on Sunday Morning. There WILL be a campfire - so make sure you practice your favorite song or skit!

Please register by October 10th to pendalouan@gmail.com. If youhave any questions, feel free to call camp at (231) 894-4538. We look forward to seeing you!

Keep checking the blog for updates on Pendalouan Day. Next week, we'll also be posting a recap on Pendalouan Day 2010! Stay tuned!

Father-Son Camp 2011... A Success!

2011-09-10T16:37:00.001-04:00

A little more than a week ago, Camp Pendalouan held our annual Father-Son Camp. This rich tradition, which started in 1936, provides fathers, sons, and grandfathers the chance to come together for 3 days of laughter, bonding, and good times.

Father-Son Camp is one of our longest standing traditions here at camp. And its no secret as to why... The weekend is a blast! Throughout the weekend, there are opportunities to swim and boat on Big Blue Lake, hike to Sleepy Hollow, shoot at the Archery and Riflery Ranges, conquer our climbing wall, high ropes course, and take a ride on our Zipline! Horseback riding, Capture the Flag, Ultimate Frisbee, and campfires also make the weekend a memorable one.

This year, over 78 fathers and sons - many who were first timers - descended on Camp Pendalouan to have a fun weekend with just the guys. As per tradition, a hat was passed around at the Sunday Chapel to raise money for a specific camp improvement. This year's donations went to new fences. -we need at least a few fences for safety along the trails, as well as protecting some of the more environmentally sensitive areas. We're replacing split rails that were installed over 20 years ago! During Father Son Camp, the families together donated $324 dollars, which will help pay for 162 feet of new fencing! Thanks so much Fathers and Sons!

The strength of the weekend is seen in some of our attendees. We have a few families who represent three different generations of fathers and sons. It is not uncommon for grandpa and dad to have been coming to Father-Son Camp for more than 30+ years in these families! We are proud to have alumni here at Pendalouan who consider it home and we are happy to have all campers, young and old, returning and new, at camp in our various programs and family camps, such as Father-Son.

For those of you who couldn't make it this past August, we hope to see you next year! Mrk your calendar now for Aug 24-26, 2012!

Father-Son Camp is one of Pendalouan's Family-Oriented Camps. In addition to Father-Son Camp, we also have a Mom & Kids Camp, a Family Camp, and a Women's Adventure Weekend in the Fall. For more information on any of these camps, contact the Pendalouan Office at Ycamp@pendalouan.org or (231) 894-4538.

Summer 2011... In The Books

2011-08-31T14:17:00.007-04:00

Although the sounds of school bells and lockers slamming are still a few days away, here at Pendalouan, we are saying goodbye to Summer 2011. And boy, what a summer it was!

This past summer, over 800 children experienced the Spirit of Pendalouan while they made friends, enjoyed the outdoors, stepped out of their comfort zone, embraced the four core values (honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility) and learned new skills in our resident and day camps. They sang songs, learned how to shoot a bow and arrow, swam across the lake, played Capture the Flag, and lived and learned how to gain independence and work together as a cabin on the shores of Big Blue Lake.

Some highlights from Summer 2011:

Summer 2011 was one of the cleanest in recent history! While there is bound to be some dirt and sand when living in the outdoors, this summer our campers went crazy for our week-long Cabin Clean-Up Competition! Taking the value of responsibility to heart (and being lured by the incentive of winning an ice-cream sundae party on Friday), campers made their beds, swept their cabins, and organized their belongings in a manner that surprised a lot of Pendalouan Staff. Program Director Mark, who has worked at Pendy for the last 6 summers, said, "I have never seen cabins so clean! These kids worked hard and took that job seriously. Sometimes there was not a single thing wrong with a cabin." A perfect score is very difficult to achieve at Pendalouan... this summer we had four cabins with perfect scores (100 pts). Pretty impressive.

New Games! We worked hard this year to make sure campers experienced new games (all-camp games and smaller group games. That way, even returning campers can enjoy the thrill of learning a new camp game! (Don't worry, we aren't planning on getting rid of Capture the Flag anytime soon)

New Activities! This summer we also made the effort to incorporate new activities into our Activity Offerings and Rendezvous Choices. Some of our new (or updated activities) include: Tumbling, Mad Science, Sailing, Mud Hikes, Creative Writing, and our new Specialty Camp; Fine Arts Camp.

During "Marko-Trivia," a short tradition that happened after morning chapels, campers learned about the following topics depending on the week: Nature and the Outdoors, Olympics, Outer Space and the Stars Jungle/Rainforest, United States History and Culture, and Pendalouan History.

Oh man, we here at Pendalouan could talk forever about Summer Camp, but for now, we'll leave it at that. As the the temperature starts to drop and the leaves begin to change colors, camp transitions to Outdoor Education season, another exciting time of year.

We hope that this Fall, you stay connected with Pendalouan on this blog and in other ways. We'll be updating this blog periodically with news, updates, pictures, and maybe even some contests! Also, be on the lookout for information on Pendalouan Day, a chance to connect with and experience Camp in a different season. The event will take place in October and a wonderful way to meet others who value and care about Pendalouan.

Enjoy your last week of Summer and the beginning of September!

Peace, Love, Pendalouan.

Volunteering at Camp Pendalouan!

2011-07-13T09:13:00.006-04:00

This past week members from the First Presbyterian Church's youth group, Impact, came to Pendalouan to perform service projects around camp. They cleaned several flower beds, filled in pot holes on the camp road, cleared Willson Beach for cook out nights and removed old fences along the road. Their presence was seen around camp almost immediately.

We want to give a special "Thank You" to Impact leader, Matt Fisher, and all of the members of Impact for their hard work.

If any groups are interested in volunteering their time and skills please contact us at ycamp@pendalouan.org

Water Mat Madness

2011-06-29T14:18:00.007-04:00

This week cabin groups have spent a lot of time on one of our favorite waterfront toys, the Water Mat! Campers enjoy having "fashion shows," wrestling, jumping on and off the mat. "The most popular game to play on the water mat is King of the Hill. It's a great way to spend an evening with your cabin on Big Blue Lake." says, Waterfront Director, Tim M. Tonight the CITs will be hosting "The Big Event" which is a weekly all camp evening program. This week's theme is Jungle. Staff and CITs will be dressing up as their favorite jungle animals and playing wild games across camp.

Camp on!

2011-06-24T13:44:00.003-04:00

Session 1 2011 is nearly history; and history-making it was! 18 CITs, and probably an equal number of inches of rain -was there a day without precipitation? And, perhaps a record number of positive attitudes by staff and campers that helped make it a great week. We hope the first year campers realize that it doesn't always rain at Beautiful Big Blue lake!

Next week is looking great for both weather and a full camp. There are still openings in other sessions, but some are definitely filling up.

OPENING DAY!

2011-06-19T08:39:00.005-04:00

TODAY MARKS THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER FOR THE PENDALOUAN CALENDAR!

That's right. The first day of summer - do you know why? Because today is the first day of Session One for the Summer Camp 2011 season! Today marks the beginning of another summer filled with campfires, archery, friend-making, swim lessons, adventure, fireflies songs, and skits.

Last week, the Summer 2011 Staff - who you met on the blog this spring - was hard at work getting training by Pendalouan's Leadership Team in Homesickness, Merriment-Making, Emergency Protocol, Cabin Unity, Bedwetting, and several other important areas.

The staff bonded as they went through several of the same experiences that campers do when they head off to a week (or two) at camp. Many reunited with returning staff they knew. Both our 1st year staff and our returning staff members met and made new friends with the 1st year staff. They learned in "Family Groups" - an attempt to simulate the cabin bonding experience. They did Taps Talks (our nightly ritual that involves recaping the day and reflecting upon it) and made Chapel Skits for the rest of the Staff. We raised and lowered the flag daily, and in between we had sessions such as working with challenging campers or incorporating the Four Core Values into teaching activities.

They even had a chance to canoe down the White River, an experience that our older campers especially have been known to love.

Now that Staff Training is over, and our staff is rested from a relaxing weekend, we are so excited for our first campers of the Summer to come and join us for an amazing summer.

On a related note about changing kids lives for the better, Happy Fathers Day to all you Dad's out there!

Peace, Love, Pendalouan.

Less Than One Week!

2011-06-06T11:18:00.007-04:00

LESS THAN ONE WEEK!

In less than one week, the Summer 2011 staff you’ve met all spring here on the camp blog descend upon Beautiful Big Blue Lake and begin our Staff Training. Some of our staff are already up here working with school groups, advancing towards their lifeguard certification, or getting trained in CPR/First Aid.

Pendalouan’s Staff Training is an intense experience. There is a lot to learn and much to be done during that week's span. We work hard to make sure our staff is getting the best training out there. We do, however, make sure that it is done in an enjoyable and meaningful way as well. After our week of training and orientation, excited children pour into camp and Session One begins, officially kicking off Summer 2011!

Throughout the summer, please check back and look for periodic updates about how camp is going. There will be about one or two updates per a session. We’ll try to include some pictures too! If you have something you want to see or hear about, let us know in the comment page or on our Facebook wall!

BUT, before we get too ahead of ourselves. Let’s meet the remaining Summer 2011 staff.

Hey everyone, my name is Joselito Robles. I am a junior at Central Michigan University who is currently studying Recreation. This will be my first year on staff at Camp Pendalouan. I’m excited to do ropes course and rock wall belaying. On my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball and riding my longboard. I cannot wait for summer to start because by the sound and look of it, I will have a blast.

Hey everybody! My name is Jack, and I'm very very excited to be returning to work my second year at Camp Pendalouan. I am a graduating senior at Oak Park River Forest High School in Illinois, and will be attending DePaul University in the fall. I love to explore Chicago, play basketball, and hang out with awesome kids! I'm confident that this will be an amazing summer.

You’ve met the 2011 Staff, you’ve heard about our Staff Training, and you’ve gotten updated on what the blog will be like this summer. But have you registered for a session at Pendalouan this summer yet? For information on registration or any camp inquiry, take a look at the Pendalouan website or give the office a call at (231) 894-4538.

That’s it for now!

Peace, Love, Pendalouan.

Busy as Bees This May!

2011-05-25T09:53:00.002-04:00

What a month it has been at Camp Pendalouan so far! Outdoor Education season is in full swing and we here at camp are working hard to give school groups an incredible experience as they finish up their school year.

As we provide school groups with a learning experience that the classroom cannot provide, we are simultaneously preparing for Summer Camp! Did you know that we have some great new activities and programs this summer? First is our Fine Arts Specialty Camp during Session One and Session Five. Campers will be exposed to a wide variety of different art mediums, including ceramics, painting with acrylics, and drawing with pastels, charcoal and pencils. Campers will be bringing home their projects to share with the family. Second, we are in the process of developing a Water Polo program at camp. This exciting new feature would be available during Cabin Activity Time, Rendezvous (our "Choice Time"), Aquatics Camp, and other Special Waterfront time. Lastly, we are currently fishing ideas from our new staff about new activities to offer based on their unique talents and abilities. We have already talked about a Gymnastics class, a movie making class, and a new and improved nature class with some of our Summer 2011 Staff Members. Can you say, exciting?!

But let's continue our Meet The Staff series! Today we have Tatiana, Myk and Kelly!

Hey everyone! My name is Tatiana and this will be my second year work at camp! Previously, I was a camper for 2 years and a CIT. I am currently a senior at Groves high school and will soon be graduating to attend Michigan State University for education and psychology. I love to dance in the shower, sing in the car, and laugh with my friends. In my spare time I enjoy reading, drawing, and walking my dog. I can't wait for this summer! It's gonna be the best summer ever!!!!!

Hi! I am Myk! I love hanging out with my friends, working out and fixing things like my truck and tractors. I love working with my hands . I also love rockclimbing and doing other sports like wrestling and lacrosse. This year I coached middle school wrestling. We went 13-1! I grew up around animals all my life and I participated in 4H. I am also a hunter, I love to bow hunt. I don't do to much with a gun yet, but I still am good with one.I really enjoy working with kids. I hope from camp that I make a bunch of little friends and have a memorable summer counseling experience!

Hey everyone! My name is Kelly! I'm from Utah, but have spent my summers in Michigan for as long as I can remember. I'm currently finishing up my junior year at Salem Hills High School and can't wait to be done so I can come hang out with all of you at my favorite place ever, Camp Pendalouan! This will be my fourth summer at Pendalouan, but my first as a counselor. I'm so super duper excited!! I cant wait to swim in beautiful Big Blue Lake, play some gaga, capture the flag, eat juice pops, and sing songs! :)

Wow, 2011 is sure going to be one for the books. Won't you join us? Sessions are filling up fast. Check the Pendalouan Facebook Page for discounts, registration information and contact info!

Just a few more days!

2011-05-23T18:15:00.005-04:00

Hey There! We are INCHES away from camp. Let's meet some of our remaining staff!

Hey everyone! My name is Baylee Tuggle and I'’ve been a member of the Pendalouan family for nine years. My favorite camp activities include Arts and Crafts, canoeing down the White River, playing GaGa, and pretty much everything else at camp. I have been dreaming of being a camp counselor since I was seven, and now my dream is finally coming true! I can’t wait until summer, when we’ll sing silly songs and eat s’mores around a campfire. Summer of 2011 will be the best one yet!

Hello! My name is Dasha and this will be my 5th summer at Pendy. I enjoy running. I just graduated from the University of Michigan, where I studied nature. Things I love about camp: capture the flag, cookies, cookouts, the trading post, and CAMPERS! I can't wait for this summer, I'm sure it will be amazing!

Hello Friends! My name is Matt and the other day was my first full day as a Pendalouan staff member- I can already tell it's going to be a great summer. Although I just started working at Pendy, I am not new to YMCA Summer Camps. For the past six summers I worked at YMCA Camp Benson, where I was a counselor and Ropes Director. This summer I will be floating all around camp helping out from the kitchen to the waterfront and everywhere in between. Currently I'm a senior at Western Illinois University, majoring in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration with a double minor in African American Studies and Analog Photography. In my free time, I am an avid supporter of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club and have been a season ticket holder since 2007. Can't wait to meet you all!

Less than 4 Weeks Until Summer 2011!

2011-05-23T15:24:00.008-04:00

Can you believe it?!? We only have 26 days until Session One of Summer 2011 starts! I get goose bumps just saying it out loud! From now on, we'll be introducing THREE new staff a post. Are you excited because I know these three are! Let's give a big Pendalouan Welcome (and Welcome Back) to Fenton, Kathleen, and Stefan:

Dear Campers, My name is Fenton Jones I live in Detroit Michigan. This is my first year at camp Pendalouan and boy am I EXITED! I am a very enthusiastic person; I am told I am very outgoing and that I have boat loads of Energy. I am a recent graduate from University high school (Ferndale) Class of 2011. WOHOOO! Next year i will be attending Saginaw Valley State University where I will take up English education or International Studies. My favorite hobby is learning Japanese, mentoring, writing and of course playing Soccer! I cannot wait for this journey begins as I learn and gain new experience. I look forward to working with all of you. See ya at CP. I'm third!

Hi Everyone! My name is Kathleen Pallante and this will be my 11th summer at Camp Pendalouan. When I am (unfortunately) not at Camp, I enjoy playing volleyball with my school, singing in the choir, and reading. I live in the often cold but beautiful state of Michigan and could not be more excited for a great summer at camp! I'm looking forward to playing scatterball, singing songs, and playing the greatest camp game of all, Capture the Flag! I can't wait for the day I wake at Camp Pendalouan and begin the summer!

Hello! My name is Stefan and this will be my second summer working at Camp Pendalouan. I am a senior at West High school in Madison Wisconsin. Last year was one of my favorite summer experiences and I can’t wait for this summer. I am looking forward to having fun all day every day. I can’t wait for camp to begin once again. See you in June!

Fenton, Kathleen and Stefan are PUMPED to see you. Have you signed up for summer camp or day camp this summer yet? Check out the website for contact and registration. Hope to see you soon!

We're Back... WITH MORE STAFF!

2011-05-16T09:49:00.004-04:00

HELLO THERE!

Late last week, there were some technical difficulties with blogger.com, so we were unable to continue our sibling staff bio series! But now we are back in business and ready to introduce Alyssa (Katie's sister), Liz (Braden's sister) and Gretchen (Our Teen Director's sister). Without further ado, here they are:

Hi everyone! My name is Alyssa. This will be my second summer at Pendy and I couldn’t be more psyched. Although I am originally from the great state of Pennsylvania, I am currently living in St. Paul, MN as a sophomore at Macalester College studying Geography and Educational Studies. While the snow the starting to melt and signs of spring are coming, I really just want to fast forward to those perfect sunny days on Big Blue. I’m most excited about making foiled dinners, playing on the water mat, and getting to see all the wonderful faces of camp everyday. To make this summer even better my older sister, Katie, is joining the staff, which will be a blast! I can’t wait to meet everyone. Summer 2011 is going to be amazing!

Hey everybody! My name is Liz and this is my third year as a counselor at good ole Camp Pendalouan :) I have spent the past 12 summers at camp, either as a camper or counselor, and I couldn't imagine my summer any other way. I'm currently a freshman at the University of Michigan where I'm studying engineering. But I'm counting down the days until I'm back at Big Blue Lake. I can't wait to sing songs at the top of my lungs and enjoy the savory taste of foil dinners hot off the campfire. But what I look forward to the most this summer is sharing my enthusiasm and love for camp with others. Can't wait to see you there!

Hey everyone! My name is Gretchen. This will be my seventh year at Pendalouan and I’m so excited to be spending my summer on Big Blue Lake once again! I currently live in Grand Haven Michigan, but I cannot wait to graduate and begin attending Northern Michigan University in the fall. My favorite things to do at camp include making new friends, canoeing down the White River, playing four square, singing songs, swimming at the sandbar, and having cookouts. When I’m not at camp you can usually find me outside, with a book, or just hanging out with my friends and family. I know it is going to be an amazing summer and I can’t wait for camp to start! See you there!

Make sure to check back later this week for more staff bios as we get closer and closer towards Summer 2011!

Peace, Love, Pendalouan

The Countdown Continues!

2011-05-10T11:30:00.000-04:00

Can you believe that we only have 40 days left until Session One of Summer 2011 begins?!? The days will fly by and it will be before we know it!

You may already know that this summer we will once again only be having six sessions of resident camp! This is because our friends from Special Days Camps are coming back to Pendalouan for the first two in August. We had a blast with Special Days last year and we can't wait for them to return. But this does mean that it is super important to register now in order to secure your spot in the 6 sessions of Resident Camp! Be sure to check our website for rates & dates for Summer 2011! We can't wait to see you there!

Today, we are introducing two staff members who both have siblings working here at Pendalouan this summer! Today is Braden and Katie. Later this week, we'll meet their siblings Liz and Alyssa.

My name is Braden and I LOVE Camp Pendalouan! This is going to be my 12th summer at camp, and my first as a counselor. I can hardly wait for summer to get here and get to see Big Blue Lake again. I am a junior at Muskegon High School and am on the Cross Country Team. I also have a sister, Liz, who is also a counselor at Camp Pendalouan. My favorite meal at camp is Teriyaki Chicken, with chocolate pudding for dessert. YUM!!! I can't wait to be at camp having fun with everybody playing games and singing songs. This is going to be an amazing summer at camp and I am really excited to be part of it.

Hello everyone! My name is Katie and I am beyond excited to be a counselor at Camp Pendalouan this summer. This will be my first summer at Pendalouan and I cannot wait for the adventures to begin! I am currently finishing up my senior year at Carleton College in Minnesota where I enjoy studying Anthropology, making art, floating down the Canon river, and generally spending as much time out in the sunshine as possible. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and spending an amazing summer at Camp Pendalouan!

Stay tuned later this week, to meet their siblings, Liz and Alyssa!

More Michigan Staff!

2011-05-06T09:20:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone! We have less than 45 days until Summer 2011 officially begins! Pendalouan is gearing up and getting ready. We are hosting the last few weeks of school groups, cleaning out cabins, and starting to plan and buy things for the Summer (Juice Pops and s’more supplies by the truckload!!!).

As we get closer and closer to the Summer, we’ll be meeting more and more staff! Today we are introducing Melissa and Egan. Coincidentally, both of these staff members have older siblings who also worked at camp! We really are all one big Pendalouan family!

Hey Hey! My name is Melissa and this will be my second summer at Camp Pendalouan! I currently attend the University of Michigan-Flint. When I'm not dancing or cheering, you'll see me hanging out on the lake, sitting by the fire, or eating smores. I'm super ecstatic to meet new friends! This cold is getting old! Bring on summer 2011!

Hey there! I'll be receiving my third bead this summer! How exciting it is to be coming back. I'm Egan (the one giving the adorable chocolate lab a squeeze). I study art in Chicago, have recently taken up the banjo, and can always go for vanilla soft-serve. While at camp, I love cookouts, crafts, and trips to the sandbar. I'm looking forward to seeing familiar faces, and spending time with new ones! Can't wait for Pendalouan 2011! See you there!

Thanks for reading! Check back next week and we’ll have more bios and more information to share about Summer 2011. Have an enjoyable, safe, and (hopefully) warm weekend!

Less Than A Month To Go!

2011-05-04T11:30:00.009-04:00

You're probably itching to get out of school and get to camp! I know the staff is! Some of the staff are already here, working with school groups and gearing up for Summer 2011! In less than one month, we all meet to train and get ready to give hundreds of campers the summer of your life!

Cookout night, all camp games, cabin activities, lake swim, boating, high ropes, archery, rifles and bb's, hikes to sleep hollow... those are just a FEW of the things you can look forward to this year! And we cannot wait to see you!

Enjoy your week! Here are three more staff to meet: Jose, Leah, and Mathieu!

Greetings Earthlings! I’m Jose and this will be my 2nd year at Camp Pendalouan. This summer is going to be great. I’m looking forward to spending warm sunny days playing games and having fun! In my spare time, I love to play video games, draw, and listen to music. I also like to run to stay in shape and for fun. In June, I am going to graduate from Muskegon High School and next fall I am attending Kendall College of Art & Design where I plan on double majoring in Graphic Design and Art Education so that I can be an art teacher. I love working with kids, which is why I am excited to be a counselor this summer. It’s going to be awesome! :)

My name is Leah. This will be my third summer working at Pendalouan, and it is my my ninth summer ever! I can not wait to be back on the shores of Big Blue Lake to have more INCREDIBLE days with all of you! I love spending time up on the ropes course and out on the lake. I love the smell of campfire, especially if there are foil dinners and s'mores involved! I am currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan, where I am studying Biomedical Engineering. But the school will be over very soon, and I am extremely excited for this summer to begin!

Bonjour a tous my name is Mathieu and I'm from Belgium in Europe. I go to a french school and my first language is French. This will be my seventh year at camp and my first one as a real counselor. I'll do my best to make it the best one yet. I can't wait to meet new people that I never met and listen to their stories. My favorite part of camp is the high ropes and singing silly songs all day long. When you'll see me for the first time this summer, don't hesitate to say Hi my ears are open to anything you have to say.

Feel free to contact the office if you have any questions regarding resident camp, day camp, registration, or even just to say hi! See you soon!

Open House Recap and Michigan Staff!

2011-05-04T11:00:00.003-04:00

Well hello there! Happy Wednesday to you from Big Blue Lake! It is currently 60 degrees and Sunny here at Pendalouan and we are enjoying the nice spring morning while we think about summer camp. If it was a resident camp session, we’d be right about to switch from our 1^st Activity Period to our Second. Maybe from Archery to Sports and Games? Or Canoeing to Nature?

Well we had our Spring Open House this past Sunday and it was a blast! We had absolutely amazing weather and offered boating, archery, tours, and the climbing wall for visitors to enjoy and experience. In addition to Alumni that stopped by to reconnect and revisit, we also had families and youth who had never been to Pendalouan before, who came to get a good feel of this wonderful place before registering for a Summer camp session.

Unable to make it last Sunday? Don’t worry, if you give the office a call at (231) 894-4538, you can set up a time to stop by Camp Pendalouan and get a tour and check us out!

But now its time to meet some more of our wonderful Summer 2011 staff. Last week, we introduced four out-of-state staff members, hailing from Minnesota to New Mexico to West Virginia. This week, we’ll be highlighting some of our Michigan born and raised staff! So without further ado, here’s Mishael and Julie!

Good day readers! I'm Mishael. This will be my first summer as a staff member but my 9th year going to summer camp. I'm so excited to work at camp. After this summer, I will be going into my senior year at Dexter High School. I love building stuff in my spare time and my passion is fixing anything that I can find thats broken. I've wanted to work at camp for as long as I've been going and I can't wait to see everyone there!

Hi everyone! My name is Julie and I am 21 years old. I love eating peanut butter cup ice cream, running, and water skiing. Right now I am studying at Grand Valley State University. I can’t wait for school to be over and summer to begin so I can get back to Camp Pendalouan! This will be my second summer on staff and I am so excited for summer 2011! I look forward to playing capture the flag, singing to Mr. Zip Zip, and swimming in Big Blue. I can’t wait to see you all this summer!

Julie and Mishael are just itching for summer to come and so are we. We hope you join Julie, Mishael, and the rest of us for a session (or two) of Summer 2011!

Out of State Staff!

2011-04-28T00:35:00.005-04:00

Earlier this week, we met Lila and Hannah, two staff members hailing from outside of Michigan. Continuing the trend, today we are going to introduce two more out-of-towners, Sydney and Eli!

Hey everyone! My name is Sydney and I will graduate from college in Minnesota this June. This will be my first summer at Camp Pendy - I have been hearing about it for the past four years from other counselors and I'm super pumped to FINALLY experience the magic! I have never been to Michigan and I'm excited to not only be living on a lake all summer long (my home state of New Mexico doesn't really have lakes), but also to be spending it with such a fantastic group of counselors and campers!

Hi everyone! My name is Eli, and I recently graduated from West Virginia State University. This will be my second summer at Pendalouan, and I can hardly wait. I love the outdoors, reading, watching old movies, and making new friends. I'm a people person, and its hard to find better people than the ones you meet on the shores of Big Blue Lake. Hope to see you there!

Sydney and Eli are just two of the numerous amazing staff we have coming from outside the state of Michigan. But we also have a ton of staff members from The Great Lakes State! Stay tuned next week, when we introduce a few of those! Have a fun and safe weekend. And we hope to see you at the Open House on Sunday!

Open House (THIS SUNDAY!) and More Staff!

2011-04-26T18:09:00.003-04:00

Itching to get back to Pendalouan?
Can't wait for summer?
Need to see Big Blue Lake, the Council Ring of the Great Bear, the Sandlot, or Nikana Lodge at least once more before Summer starts?!?!

Well guess what? This Sunday is Pendalouan's Spring Open House! This Sunday, May 1st from 1:00pm to 3:30pm, we'll have staff on hand to provide you with everything you need to prepare you for this upcoming summer or to reconnect with this magical place. Take a tour, speak to directors, go on a canoe ride, shoot an arrow, eat a cookie, and, if you haven't already, sign up for summer camp! Staff will be available to answer questions and explain our ability to help kids make friends while learning about the camp motto, “I’m Third” and the YMCA's four core values of Honesty, Caring, Respect and Responsibility!

We hope to see you there! But before then, let's meet two more 2011 Summer Staff members, Hannah and Lila!

Hello from Minnesota! I’m Hannah and I cannot wait to be back at Pendy for my second summer! Just thinking about foil dinners and juice pops is making my mouth water. I go to Macalester College in Minnesota and I am studying psychology. Some of my favorite things about camp are groove boarding on Big Blue, singing songs at meals, the square dance, and meeting new people. Only a few short months until the magic begins!

Hey there, campers! I’m Lila and this will be my seventh summer at Camp Pendy! It will be my first year as a counselor. I’m SO excited to spend the summer in the sand lot or on the T-dock or in the Gaga pit. I’m busy finishing off my junior year at Oak Park River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois and, of course, working on my singing voice for camp. I’m looking forward to spending my time in the Craft Shack or at the barn and meeting new friends the entire summer. I’m counting down the days! Hope to see you there at Big Blue!

Hannah and Lila are pumped for Summer 2011! Aren't you?!?!

Don't forget about this Sunday's Open House! If you have any questions, feel free to call the office at 231-894-4538. If you need directions, our office staff can help you, or you can check out the website at www.pendalouan.org!

Two More Staff!

2011-04-21T15:02:00.004-04:00

ONLY 57 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER CAMP SESSION ONE! And in only 50 days, our staff will meet and start our week-long intense training experience. While it seems like spring is struggling to escape Winter’s cold hard grasp, summer will be here before we even know it!

To get ready, let’s meet two more of our counseling staff, Amiee and Mark!

Hello! I’m Amiee Woodrow and I am a senior at Michigan State University in the college of Human Development and Family Studies. Currently I’m studying for my midterms, staring out the window at the snow, imagining that my classes are over, the snow is melted, and that we are all at camp! In my free time, (whenever I find any) I like to paint, take pictures, watch movies and dream about the future. I also enjoy the little things in life, like freshly washed sheets and wiper blades that actually clean the windshield. This will be my very first summer at Pendalouan and there is no way in the universe that I could be more excited. I can’t wait to meet all of you!

Hey everyone! My name is Mark, and I’m super duper excited to be back at Pendy for my second summer as a Camp Pendalouan Counselor! I can’t wait to be back on Big Blue Lake, paddle boarding, making tinfoil dinners, and dominating in the Gaga pit. I go to Michigan State, where I study history. When I’m not at camp, I like to play guitar, listen to music, go running, and watch movies. I can’t wait to be back at camp, it’s going to be a blast!

We are happy to have Mark back and excited to welcome Amiee to the family!

Check back next week for more bios! And if you want to register for a session or have more questions, give us a call in the office or check out our website, or stop by Camp!

Teen Programs and Teen Directors!

2011-04-18T11:01:00.004-04:00

A BIG Pendalouan Hello to everyone!

Did you know that Camp Pendalouan offers TWO amazing Teen Programs?!?!

First off, we have the C.I.T. program, which stands for Counselor-In-Training. This specialty program is for 16 year olds interested in beginning that progression from camper to staff. This 13-day experience provides opportunities to develop communication, leadership and camping skills, as well as skills and experience needed to be a great camp leader. Many of our current staff have themselves gone through the CIT program and can speak to the benefits of the experience!

Secondly, we have our Leaders-In-Training program for interested 15 year olds. This six-day experience allows these students to build a close and respectful community while enhancing their own positive attributes and leadership skills. There is no place to learn about leadership at camp, where great role models are numerous and leadership opportunities are everywhere!

Leading these two important teen leadership programs are our Teen Directors, Katie and Robert. Let's a take a moment to meet them!

Hi! My name is Katie and I’m thrilled to be returning to Camp Pendy this summer as co-Teen director, meaning I’ll have the opportunity to work with the oldest campers- namely the Counselors in Training (CITs) and Leaders in Training (LITs)!. This is my fifth summer working at camp and I’m eagerly counting down the days to when the sun doesn’t set before 9 pm, fireflies flicker by, the snow and ice has officially melted, swimming in Big Blue Lake is a very real possibility and summer camp has officially begun! Some of my favorite things about camp are swimming, sailing, and kayaking in Big Blue, playing capture the flag, tin foil dinners, and meeting new people and making new friends. When I’m not at camp, I attend Miami University where I’m majoring in Exercise Science with minors in Neuroscience and Nutrition. I hope to one day be a pediatrician. I’ve recently discovered how much I enjoy cycling and running in addition to my background in swimming and have had a blast participating on my school’s triathlon team. Crazy, but I it’s my goal to complete an ironman before graduation! Cheers!

My name is Robert~ I’m from Muskegon Michigan. I went to high school at Reeths-Puffer before studying English and outdoor education at Central Michigan University. This summer will be my second at YMCA Camp Pendalouan and I look forward to the rewards and challenges that come with the work!

We are thrilled to have Katie and Robert planning and leading our teen programs. If you are curious about Pendalouan's teen programs or other summer camp programs, feel free to check out our website or call the office! Are you not a teen yourself? Or are you children not at the teen age yet? Well stick around because later this week, we'll be introducing more Summer 2011 counselors!

Summer... Just 8 Weeks Away!

2011-04-13T16:27:00.005-04:00

It's safe to say that most people have finished up their spring breaks about now. If you are currently enjoying a break from school, enjoy your time off! The end of spring break is always a turning point. With the school year end in sight, summer is just waiting for us to catch up to it. With summer, of course, comes SUMMER CAMP AT PENDALOUAN! What better motivation to work hard and finish the year off strong than anticipation and excitement for Summer 2011. Need some mental images to help you along? How about feeling the breeze off of Big Blue Lake while out on a sailboat or a canoe? Or maybe the rush and adrenaline when you find the flag during a game of Capture the Flag? Or the feeling of safety and at-home-ness that eating around a campfire can provide? What about the laughter and smiles that are experiences at activities like Sports & Games, Mountain Biking, Aquatics Camp, or Swim Lessons?
Those are some of the images that have motivated me to finish the school year on a good note. They remind me that Camp is a magical place for everyone. Won't you join us this summer for a session or two?

Here are two more people, our Day Camp Director and Robyn, who will be helping out at the barn, who are just as excited to meet you!

Hello, my name is Holli and this is my second summer at camp as the Day Camp Director! I am looking forward to an amazing summer under the pavilion with lots of great activities planned for the campers. When I am not working summer camp I am working as an instructor for the Outdoor Education Program. I hale from Spokane, Washington and have a degree in Recreation management. Working at camp is the best job in the world.

HI!!! My name is Robyn and I am so excited to be working at Pendy for summer of 2011!!This will be my 15th year at Pendalouan! My Triple T-Bird year. Super stoked! I was a camper for 10 years and have been on staff for 5 years. This summer I will be helping Mandy up at the amazing Horse Barn and also working down in camp as a counselor. When I'm not at camp, I work at an Animal Hospital and love it! I can't wait to see the smiles on everybody's faces. Also for some great capture the flag games, foil dinners, opening campfire,pony rides,lake swims,and pretty much everything camp offers! See you soon!

We are thrilled to have Holli and Robyn back with us this summer. They can't wait to spend time with you!

New Week, MORE STAFF!

2011-04-07T11:48:00.005-04:00

Hey Hey Friends of Pendalouan!
It's been in the 50s all week here at Pendalouan. Every week seems to inch us closer and closer towards SUMMER 2011! To help us get ready, we're gonna meet two more staff members! So without anymore hesitation, let's meet our Health Director and Equestrian Director!

Hi Everyone! My name is Marissa. I’m so excited to be back for my third summer! The past two summers I was a counselor, but this summer you’ll see me around with band-aids and a smile as the health officer. When I’m not at camp I go to school. I am finishing my first year at Earlham College, and next year I’ll be transferring to Xavier University. Summertime is my favorite part of the year. I can’t wait to see everyone’s smiling faces, have cookout dinners, and watch lifelong friendships form! Come visit me with headaches, tummy aches, bumps, bruises, or just to chat. And remember, drink lots of water!

Hi Everyone! My name is Mandi and I have the awesome privilege of joining the Pendalouan Summer Camp Staff for another year! I will be running the barn and taking care of our 12 beautiful horses again this summer. I have been teaching kids to ride horses every summer for almost ten years and I have been around them my whole life. I spend most of my days at the coolest place on camp, the barn! When I'm not feeding, brushing, saddling, bridling, riding, or bathing horses, I'm scooping poo, fixing fences, sweeping, pulling weeds, cleaning water troughs, or chasing after horses. I love my job and I can't wait to take you all on a trail ride through our scenic trails that you will never forget!

We are super pumped to have Marissa and Mandi back at Pendalouan this summer. Marissa's long history at Pendalouan and Mandi's extensive experience in the Equestrian World will be essential to making sure Camp is at its best this summer!

If you still need to register for summer camp, call Pendalouan today or head to Pendalouan's website to register for any session this summer and check back here, The Pendalouan Blog, often to meet more staff members!

Introducing... THE SUMMER 2011 STAFF

2011-03-31T10:46:00.008-04:00

The time has finally arrived! Prepare yourself, because starting TODAY, the blog will be introducing Camp Pendalouan's Summer 2011 Staff!

I hope you are as excited as I am to see familiar and new faces. We have an awesome crew this year who cannot wait for summer.

So without further ado... your Summer 2011 YMCA Camp Pendalouan Staff!

First, let's meet our Summer 2011 Program Director, Mark Olson:

A BIG PENDALOUAN HELLO from Northfield, Minnesota!! My name is Mark and I am thrilled to be coming back to camp as this summer's Program Director. This summer will mark my 13th year at Camp Pendalouan! I was a camper for 7 years, and this will be my 6th year as a staff member. I am from Oak Park, Illinois which is right outside of Chicago. I go to college in Minnesota, which is all the way on the other side of Lake Michigan! My favorite things about Pendalouan are Kitchen Staff Parades, Sailing and canoeing on Big Blue Lake, hiking to Sleepy Hollow, and Capture the Flag. Campfires, smores, and singing to Mr. Moon also help me get through the school year. Summer 2011 will be like no other! Can't wait to see you on the shores of Big Blue Lake!

Next up is Tim Mathieu, our Summer 2011 Waterfront Director:

Hi Everybody! My name is Tim and I am excited to be back at Camp Pendalouan for another summer. This will be my sixth summer working at Pendalouan, my second summer working as the waterfront director. While I'm not down at the waterfront I love to go on a rustic bike ride or relax on hammock hill. I'm looking forward to seeing you all there for another adventure packed summer so be sure to register soon!

With March ending, Pendalouan's Staff Training is only 65 days away! That means Session 1 is only 72 days away! Call camp today or head to Pendalouan's website to register for any session this summer and check back here, The Pendalouan Blog, often to meet more staff members!

There might be snow on the ground......

2011-02-08T10:33:00.002-05:00

...but summer is in the air!! Registrations are coming in for campers, staff are being hired, games are being planned, t-shirts are being ordered and summer will be here before we know it!!

Check back for our weekly blog updates, as we begin to introduce Summer Staff 2011!!

Year-End Campaign!

2010-11-10T14:24:00.005-05:00

We are excited to announce the official kick-off to our Year-end Campership Campaign!

Each year, Pendalouan helps over one hundred families send their kids to camp for life-changing experiences. "Camperships" aka financial assistance, is what makes it possible. Our 2010 year-end campaign goal is $3,000 all of which will be designated directly to our Campership fund.

With your donation, no matter how small... a difference is made in the lives of Pendalouan Campers!

Please write a check payable to YMCA Camp Pendalouan and mail it to:
Year-End Campaign
YMCA Camp Pendalouan
1243 E. Fruitvale Rd.
Montague, MI 49437

As an alternative, you can always use your credit card by calling our office directly: 231.894.4538.

We appreciate your dedication to such an awesome place!
In the Spirit of Pendalouan!

Question Of The Day!

2010-11-10T08:54:00.004-05:00

Wow! We are shocked at the great response and feedback that "Question of The Day" is getting on our Facebook Fan Page! (More about this in just a moment)

Is it unseasonably warm near you? We have had high temperatures in the 60's this week! November in West Michigan is supposed to be the onset of winter, not the return of Spring! But we aren't complaining...

Summer planning for 2011 is in full swing... we have the plans drawn to put together another amazing team of counselors and staff members to give you the best week of camp ever! We will keep you posted the entire time.

Have you been answering "Question Of The Day?" we sure hope so! The Pendalouan family is an amazing group of people and we have loved reading their responses each day to the question.

Do YOU have a suggestion for an awesome "Question of The Day?" Then you should become the day sponsor. E-mail your question to pendalouan@gmail.com and keep an eye out on the Facebook Fan Page, you may see your name broadcast to hundreds of people as our sponsor!

This weeks Pendy Gear photo is of Kalin & Egan, two sisters who work at camp in the Summer... these two love camp and sent us this backwards photo of them in their Summer 2010 sweatshirts.

Enjoy your week and we look forward to your Question suggestions!

In the Spirit of Pendalouan

November!

2010-11-03T10:06:00.002-04:00

A chill has set in over Big Blue Lake, it feels like (gasp) winter is here! With temperatures in the 20's each morning and a fresh layer of frost greeting us we are bearing down and preparing accordingly!

The leaves has fallen but the fun doesn't stop, Excel Charter Academy from Grand Rapids arrived today to spend the rest of their week exploring camp. High Ropes, Group Challenge, Native American Study, Fur Trade and Gaga will just be a FEW of the highlights from their stay.

We are busy planning *NEW* things for Summer 2011 and working to make sure your favorite things are back and better than ever. We are excited to offer a BRAND NEW Specialty Camp option that is unlike anything Pendalouan has ever had before! Make sure you stay tuned for details.

Today's Pendy Gear photo is of our Associate Executive Director Lori, many of you know and love Lori from working years past or memories as campers, she is a steadfast and crucial part to the Pendalouan Family. This photo of Lori was taken on Estes Park, Colorado when we attended our conference. We are posting it because (gasp) we are expecting snow on Friday!

Enjoy your week!
In the Spirit of Pendalouan

Chief

Mystery Pendy Gear Man!

2010-10-28T14:34:00.002-04:00

You should have SEEN the weather these past few days!! With crazy wind NON STOP it was difficult to hear anyone talking when you were outside. Good thing here at camp we are loud enough!

Sandy Hill Elementary School from Jenison, Michigan is in camp this week. They are having a blast doing all the activities we offer, and hosting their Halloween Party this evening.

Speaking of Halloween, our Halloween Camp starts tomorrow evening! We cannot wait and we're sure the nearly 50 kids who are coming are excited too. We'll be putting the finished touches on our costumes this evening and we wish you all a safe and happy Halloween weekend. Be sure to share some of that candy!

We are putting the wheels in motion for our end of the year Campership Campaign in which we will be contacting all alumni & friends to help with our fund for Camperships, which help send kids to camp who cannot otherwise afford to join us in the summer. Camperships are a big part of Pendalouan and we hope you will become a part of this awesome cause!

This week we leave you with the MYSTERY PENDALOUAN GEAR MAN. Who could it be?!

Alumni & Friends Weekend!

2010-10-19T15:00:00.003-04:00

We had huge success this past weekend! We loved seeing so many familiar faces exploring Pendalouan. Red Heeres shared powerful words at the re-dedication ceremony for Wildwood Chapel, a definite highlight to the weekend.

In addition to Red a huge thank you to just a few of the Pendalouan Alum's that made the trip out; Jason Bertoia, Craig Lytle, Matthew Abel, Dominique Paschal, Dasha Dokshina, Barb & Shannon Gimenes, Brian Fedewa, Shelley Lewis, Jay & Sandy Wright, Mik DeBoef, Nancy Crandall, Jeff Mayberry, Dionel & Rob Jennings, Paul Spoelman, John Leitner, Mark & Stacy Luckey, Steve Leafers, Betty Johnson, Roger Hoffman, Dick Baker, Herb Driver, Matt Sheick, Don Potter and Jeff Cooke. This is just a fraction of the people who joined us, hopefully you recognize a few of these names!

Interested in getting back in touch with any of them? Contact us. Have you seen our YouTube video yet from the presentation this past weekend? We're excited to share it with you. In the meantime, all donations from Alumni & Friends Weekend are going directly into our campership fund, helping send kids to Pendalouan this summer who cannot afford camp on their own. An amazing cause. Enjoy your week! We will be in touch!

Snow, Mountains & Memories!

2010-10-12T17:45:00.002-04:00

We are loving every minute spent here at YMCA 125th Camping Celebration being held in Estes Park, CO. Each night coyotes and owls put us to sleep and we've been waking up to sunshine but today it was snow! Crazy mountain weather!

Former staff member Christopher Walker has been kind enough to share one of his favorite memories from his time spent on the Outdoor Education staff,

"There are so many great memories one takes away from Pendalouan... one of my favorite memories was playing the frontiersman in the Living History program. I enjoyed getting to playing a ruff and gruff character who would swindle the kids out of their family possessions. I always had a very feminine basket at my campsite full of apples. This basket belonged to the school teacher, but somehow they always ended up in my possession. It was fun playing along with the school teacher character and the kids on the whereabouts / ownership of those apples. Lori Willson and Beth Spencer were always involved with me on this fun adventure."

Chris, thanks again for sharing with us such a simple, yet memorable experience from such an important program!

Many memories are yet to be made at Camp, including this upcoming weekend for our Alumni & Friends Celebration. We hope you will join us!

Want your memory featured on the blog? Email pendalouan@gmail.com

So long from Rocky Mountain National Park!

Memories!

2010-10-11T17:19:00.004-04:00

It's hard to believe that our Friends & Alumni celebration is next weekend! We are looking forward to seeing many of you at camp on October 16 beginning at 3pm. There is still room available for spending the night, be sure to contact pendalouan@gmail.com if you are interested!

Former Camper/Staff member Lindsey (Rup) Deluca has shared with us some of her favorite camp stories from years past, we hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

"My first memory at Pendalouan was taking my swim test. I was a "green" swimmer and was quite proud of this distinction since I was one of three in my whole cabin (Blackfoot). This made it difficult for buddy checks, however, but often the very nice waterfront director (Eddie Boersema) would let us triple up. Eddie taught swim lessons that year, and I remember him teaching me how to "kick more efficiently!

I was a CIT with the likes and legends of Kristina Derhammer, Adam Martin, Peter Wickman and Justin Jakobson. Andy Hill was our director and he was the best. All of us later went on to be counselors in future years. My first cabin ever was Fox. I was with Courtney Schaub. From my early years as a staff member, I have many fun memories of playing scatterball in the "dust bowl" with Dave Riley and Jen Scher (who married Jamey Scher, my partner-in-crime the first year I was CIT director). And the first time I heard Jason Bertoia sing the "Tarzan" song I almost peed my pants laughing. There is something about the way he did the motions that was beyond belief, and that song became a staple for that summer and many summers after! I'll never forget the summer I spent as a counselor in Blackfoot cabin much of it was with Erin Dancik, another camp legend. I learned a TON from her about being the best counselor ever and about loving Pendalouan deep down in my soul."

Thank you Lindsey for all the great stories! If you would like to share any of your Pendalouan memories you can email them to pendalouan@gmail.com

Our Pendy Gear for this post is from Brittany and Sheila two summer staffers who are teachers in Yuma, Arizona! This past weekend they enjoyed the beautiful sun and sand in Mexico and OF COURSE had to sing to Mr. Zip Zip from their balcony! Thanks girls!

In The Spirit of Pendalouan!

Wish List!

2010-10-04T13:35:00.002-04:00

We have our "Wish List" for this year, and it's only October! Pendalouan has recently been asked to compile our community wish list which is displayed at our Muskegon Family YMCA.

We are putting our wish list out on the blog so that maybe if YOU have one of these items you can help us out! If you think you're able to help camp acquire anything on the Wish List please contact us at the office!

Drumroll......

Camp Pendalouan 2010 "Wish List"

waterproof tarps, any size
portable shade structures
7-passenger (or more) mini van
a gorilla suit
tents
silverware/flatware
ceramic mugs
Rototiller
wooden canoe paddles, any size, whole or broken

We hope you or someone you know can help!

Before we go, here is more "Pendy Gear" pictures! Alyssa & Hannah are college roommates AND Summer Staff members! Here they are hiking this past weekend in Minnesota enjoying the beautiful fall colors and of course wearing their Pendalouan Gear! Thanks Alyssa & Hannah!

Enjoy your week everybody!

Send Kids to Camp & See Some Football

2010-09-29T15:14:00.003-04:00

Are you ready for some football? Our huge fall raffle is getting under way and we're so excited to bring it to you!

We have 4 tickets to see the University of Michigan v. Illinois game on Nov. 6 at home in Ann Arbor! The seats are all together and valued at over $1000! For just $25 you can buy a raffle ticket which makes you eligible for all four tickets to be yours!

You can call the office (231-894-4538) or mail a check for $25:
Camp Pendalouan
c/o Kalin Franks
1243 E. Fruitvale Rd.
Montague, MI 49437

All proceeds from this raffle go directly to our Campership Fund which helps send kids to camp every summer with scholarships. Your donation brings campers back to the shores of Beautiful Big Blue Lake, we thank you.

Remember the magic.

Chief Pendalouan

Yard Sales... Colorado...Alumni and More!

2010-09-27T10:01:00.004-04:00

At Camp Pendalouan it seems we are never not busy, which we love! This past weekend we had in Women's Adventure Weekend "The Great Escape." The ladies enjoyed just hanging out, trying new activities and having quality time to relax. It was another successful year and we plan on seeing them in 2011.

This weekend is our big Yard Sale, imagine how much stuff you can put in your Yard Sale... a lot. Now imagine the amount of stuff at a Camp Yard Sale! We are sure it'll be a great weekend, in our area there is quite the contingent of "Yard Salers" who spend time each weekend hunting the best deals and unique finds, they will love our sale.

Exciting news from the Camp Office, our Directors Bruce and Lori, and Alumni Development girl Kalin are gearing up for the big National Y-Camping Conference in Estes Park, Colorado! They plan on heading out next weekend to drive West for a coming together of Y-Leaders from around the country. It's sure to be a riot. You can follow the trip on our Facebook, Twitter and right here on the blog to keep track of their big adventure.

Lastly, registration for Alumni & Friends Weekend is still underway. The response we're getting thus far is big and we are sure it'll be a great event. E-mail pendalouan@gmail.com to register. Hope to see you there!

This week our "Pendy Gear" photo was taken in Northfield, Minnesota at Carleton College. Two of our summer staff were there and by chance both were wearing their favorite t-shirts!

Enjoy your week, talk soon.

"Where In The World Is Camp Pendalouan?"

2010-09-21T09:31:00.004-04:00

We have an announcement! A call to action! Something exciting! Do YOU or someone you know have a picture wearing Pendalouan Gear at a cool destination? Maybe you wore your Camp Pendalouan hooded sweatshirt at Disneyworld this year, or perhaps you wore your Blue Team CTF t-shirt at Niagra Falls this past summer. And of COURSE we need to see you wearing your Pendalouan long-sleeve at the top of Mt. Everest!

We are starting a campaign to see any and every picture with Pendalouan gear around the world! If you have a photo with Pendalouan Gear in a cool background send it to pendalouan@gmail.com and let us know the story of your photo. You will see it posted here!

We cannot wait to see what you come up with.
Have a great day!

P.S- Check out the Righthand toolbar of this blog to stay totally connected with camp! Friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and keep checking back for that Summer 2011 countdown!

Filling Up Fast!

2010-05-18T10:08:00.002-04:00

The registrations keep coming in! Our Bugs N' Bunks session B1 is PACKED and the B2 session isn't far behind. In addition our CIT group this year is shaping up to be awesome and our resident camp sessions keep growing in size!

It's bound to be another amazing summer at Pendalouan. It's that time of year when the weather is warming up that sitting through school seems to get harder each day. But fear not! Camp is soon!

More staff are to come, but this week we will feature another staff member, Leah isn't new to Pendalouan she knows the ropes around camp and can't wait to see you!

Hey! I am Leah! This will be my 2nd summer at Pendalouan as a counselor, but my 8th summer overall! I am so excited to be back on the shores of Big Blue Lake. I can not wait to play capture the flag, make some awesome tie-dye clothing, and be surrounded by the smells of campfire! When I am not running around camp, I am at the University of Michigan studying biomedical engineering. Summer is so soon! I can not wait to see you all there!

One Month!

2010-05-05T22:05:00.002-04:00

You're probably itching to get out of school and get to camp! I know the staff is! In just a little over one month we all meet to train and get ready to give you the time of your life!

Cookout night, all camp games, cabin activities, lake swim, boating, high ropes, archery, rifles and bb's, hikes to sleep hollow... those are just a FEW of the things you can look forward to this year! And we cannot wait to see you!

Enjoy your week!

Hey there! I’m Julie, and this is going to be my first summer at Camp Pendalouan. I am so excited for summer to begin!!! I can’t wait to splash around in Big Blue Lake, sing camp songs, go horseback riding, star gaze, enjoy campfires, and laugh until my stomach hurts!! I am just finishing up my sophomore year at Grand Valley State University (and I’m excited to see some fellow Lakers on staff!). I love swimming, the beach, and pretty much anything that can be done in (or near) a lake! I am eagerly waiting for June, and to see you all this summer!

Must Be May!

2010-04-29T10:16:00.002-04:00

Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining and you can almost feel the warmth of summer! It must be nearly May at Pendalouan!

Have you signed up for camp yet? Better hurry, space is filling up and we would love to see you this summer. Our staff is busy finishing up school and final exams and getting ready to head off to Big Blue, unpack their bags and give you the best summer of your life!

Hope you're having a great week, here are more staff members for the summer!

Hello, my name is Tatiana. I'm 17 and currently go to Groves High School which is in Metro-Detroit. Though I have been a camper at Pendalouan before, this is my first summer working as a staff member at camp. I love music, dancing and reading. I am looking forward to singing camp songs, swimming in the lake, and hanging out in the craft shack this summer! Can't wait to see you there!

Hi everyone! My name is Elizabeth and this is going to be my third summer working as a counselor, but eighth overall! I am a freshman at the University of Notre Dame right now, but I can’t wait to finish up the year and head back to Camp Pendalouan. I love archery, swimming, and looking up at the stars, and you can usually find me hanging out at the store when we have a little bit of down time. I am so excited to sit at Opening Campfire and listen to all the crazy songs and see all the funny skits! I just cannot wait for summer to be here and I hope you can’t either!! I’ll see you soon!

Busy Busy Busy!

2010-04-21T11:01:00.003-04:00

May is just around the corner and we are gearing up for our busiest time of the year at Pendalouan! Outdoor Education groups come out to camp in droves in order to squeeze in some fun classes before school gets out. At the same time we are busy preparing for summer! Today we are introducing two new staff members... here they are!

Hey everybody! My name is Gretchen and this will be my first summer working at Camp Pendalouan. I'm so excited to be part of the staff this year, camp is my home away from home. I can't wait to swim in Big Blue, play capture the flag, sing all my favorite camp songs, and help kids in general to have the same great experience at camp that i did. I will be a senior at Grand Haven High School next year and plan on going into early childhood education. I can't seem to stay out of the water, so swimming is my sport. I enjoy reading, doing anything outdoors and I love meeting new people. I'm looking forward to an amazing summer!! See you all soon!

Hey, everyone! I’m Chelsea. This will be my first summer as a counselor at Camp Pendalouan. Ahhh! I’m excited. =D I’m a sophomore at Grand Valley State University in good ol’ west Michigan studying biomedical science. Yep, I’m a huge dork and I love learning. However, I’m VERY ready for the school year to be over and for a fun filled summer to begin! I love running, biking, rollerblading, soccer, and I’ve been a gymnast for as long as I can remember. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you and hanging out with all of the campers, obviously! Seriously, what better way to make memories than sitting around a fire sharing stories and eating s’mores?!

New Things at Camp!

2010-04-12T10:09:00.003-04:00

Each year, when Summer ends at Pendalouan we start almost immediately thinking of ways to make the next one ever better. Lists and meetings, brainstorm sessions, long drives wherever we can put our ideas together we make it work.

This summer will be no different, improvements to the East Moon Bath House (on current Girl's side of camp) will make the place look brand new, we are also introducing a new "Gaga Pit" at camp for a fun new game everyone can learn, in addition to awesome craft improvements, new plans for each activity, healthier options in the Trading Post, and of course AMAZING new staff members!

So much to look forward to! Don't worry, camp will still be the Pendalouan you know and love but we love bringing new things to the table for you to enjoy.

Hope you all had an awesome Spring Break! Camp had nearly 80 kids in last week for our Spring Break Escape and everyone had a rocking good time. Can't wait to hopefully see some of you Spring Break Escapers in this summer for resident or day camp!

Have a great week everyone! In the Spirit of Pendalouan....

Hi! My name is Katie and I'm absolutely thrilled to be returning to the shores of Big Blue Lake for Summer 2010!!!!! I can't wait to splash around the waterfront, roast marshmallows over a flickering campfire, play capture the flag, and in general, just have good old fashioned fun!I love almost anything to do with the water, as well as road biking, running, and my new found passion for cooking. When I'm not at camp, you can find me attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where I'm working toward Med-School and completing my degree in Exercise Science. I'm ecstatic to meet all of you this summer, as we're going to have an absolute BLAST at camp!

Hello all! My name is Sheila Dugan. I recently graduated from Eastern Illinois University to be a teacher. I love reading, swimming, and anything that has to do with being outside! I am so excited for this summer, this will be my first one at Camp Pendalouan and can't wait for it to be here!

Double The Staff = Double The Fun

2010-04-05T21:47:00.003-04:00

You may have heard already that this summer things will be a little different around Pendalouan...

We will be having only six sessions this summer! This is due to our friends from Special Days camps coming in to Pendalouan for the final two weeks in August. Meaning your opportunities to get to camp are fewer this year! It is super important to register now in order to secure your spot! Be sure to check here for rates & dates for Summer 2010! We will see you there!

This week is double the staff which means double the fun! Enjoy!

Bonjour to every camper, my name is Mathieu and I'm from Belgium (the tiny country north of France) and as you might of guessed my first language is French. This will be my 6th year at camp and Pendalouan has always been fun but I'm sure that Pendalouan 2010 will be the best yet :D. I hope to see you this summer to bring back great memories once again.

Why hello there! My name is Brittani and I am looking forward to another fantastic summer at Pendy! This will be my 12th summer at camp and my 3rd as a camp counselor! I have always considered Pendalouan a "home away from home." There has never been a better place to spend my summer. I absolutely love camp and cannot wait to share this wonderful experience with all of you! When away from camp, I am studying in Spring Arbor, MI to become a Music Therapist. Music is a great passion of mine, so many of the things I enjoy and try to bring to Pendy somehow relate to music such as the campfires, chapel, musical theater class, TAPs, and playing my keyboard as my cabin falls asleep. I also enjoy meeting new people, the Raggers Program, and playing cards in the sandlot. This is going to be a great summer. I can't wait for it to start!

Hi! My name is Will, and this is my fourth year as a counselor at Camp Pendalouan. I am an Environmental Engineer at Washington University in St. Louis. I love the outdoors, reading, and band and orchestra. You'll see me plenty at the archery and riflery ranges, and also some down at the waterfront. I'm looking forward to seeing you all at camp!

Hello friends new and old! I'm eager for summer camp to start; when my days will be filled with smiling campers, juice pops, and fresh Pendy air. My name is Marissa, and this will be my 2nd year as a counselor. When I do grow up, I'd like to work at a non-profit organization helping to change the world. I'm really looking forward to summer camp, especially some neat nature walks, spectacular songfest's, magical marshmallow roastings, and crazy capture the flag games. So everyone close your eyes and get ready for the spectacular summer of 2010, it will be here before we know it!

Dreaming The Day Away

2010-03-23T13:19:00.003-04:00

Recently it seems that everyone has that itch. At the first sight of sunshine and spring all one can think of is an afternoon swinging in a hammock on the hill. Or maybe running down to the lake and jumping in with a friend. Perhaps the high ropes course is more you- gazing out above the tree tops and feeling the sunshine on your face. Over on the sports field you can hear everyone laughing and cheering as a cabin puts together a game of soccer. At the barn the horses graze on hay while riders learn new techniques and games. Or maybe your favorite place is the deck of Nikana Lodge where you can always find someone to talk with or play a game, enjoy a juice-pop underneath a brightly colored umbrella....

Camp is a magical place for everyone, and we cannot wait to see you back at Pendalouan this summer.

Here are two more people who are just as excited to meet you!

Hey everybody! My name is Hannah and this is going to be my first year as a counselor at Camp Pendalouan. I cannot wait to spend time biking, swimming, and sitting around the campfire! I attend Macalester College in Minnesota and I am studying psychology and education. Some of my favorite things are making sandcastles, crocheting, synchronized swimming, and eating puppy chow. I’m so ready to have the most amazing summer ever with all you campers!

Hey there, I'm Egan! I am ecstatic to be working at Pendy and take in all of it's beauty again this summer. So many wonderful memories were created my first summer, I didn't think twice about returning for my second! When I'm not at camp, I create at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I grew up in Southeast Michigan, but Pendalouan is really a home away from home. My favorite things about camp are: meeting new people, sandbar, campfires, Craft Shack, foursquare, and grilled cheese (it's kinda scary how many I can consume in one sitting). Anxiously shakin' in my boots until June!!

Snow is Gone! Sun is Here?

2010-03-15T14:57:00.004-04:00

The snow is gone! What remains is a lot of brown, wet, earth waiting for a couple super warm days to start the growing process!!!

It was a busy Camp weekend for us here at Pendalouan! A couple of us visited a conference that was all about camp and we have some awesome plans for the summer. Many amazing speakers and educational sessions have us more pumped up than ever to try some exciting NEW things this year!

Monday means new staff and boy do we have a lot of awesome new staff members this year! Of course some staff is returning and they are spectacular but this crew of fresh, new faces is sure to make Pendalouan an even better place!

Without futher ado....

Hey Everyone! My name is Alyssa. This be will my first summer at Camp Pendalouan and I couldn’t be more excited! I am from outside Philadelphia but I am currently going to school in Minnesota. All this cold Minnesota weather is making me even more pumped for summer. I can’t wait to go swimming, eat s’mores, run around outside, and meet everyone. I really like soccer so I’ll always be up to kick the ball around! I know it’s going to be a great summer! See you soon.

Hello there! My name is Mike Perna and I'm a junior at DePaul University in Chicago. I'm SO excited for this summer! It will be my 6th year at camp, and my first year as a counselor (though I did some volunteer work as a counselor last summer and had a BLAST!). My favorite things about camp? Why, the campers of course! I find the intelligence, maturity, creativity, and uniqueness of each of our campers to be fascinating and intriguing. I'm also fond of scatterball, frisbee, sing a longs, and hikes down to Sleepy Hollow! My personal hobbies include guitar, voice, basketball, and so much more. Looking forward to seeing you at Big Blue!

Sunny Sunny Days!

2010-03-08T14:55:00.002-05:00

This weekend was the first time in forever that the sun was shining, birds were chirping, not a cloud in the sky and the air was warm! Spring really has sprung it seems on the shores of Big Blue Lake.

I hope that you're excited for school to let out and Summer fun to officially begin. It's hard to believe that in just three short months hammocks will be swaying in the breeze, songs will be sung, crafts made, swim tests passed, and memories made at Camp Pendalouan.

This week we are introducing two of our *NEW* Counselors to you, they are both excited to meet you and cannot wait for their very first Summer's at Pendalouan on staff... here they are!

Hi everyone! My name is Melissa and this will be my first year as a counselor at Camp Pendalouan! I'm ecstatic to play sports, sing silly songs, and meet new people. This spring, I will graduate Clio High School and will be attending the University of Michigan-Flint in the fall. I enjoy singing, drawing, dancing, and playing games. Taking pictures is something I love to do as well. I think about summer at Camp Pendalouan on a daily basis and I can’t wait! See you then!

Hey hey, everybody! I?m Mark, and this is going to be my first summer as a Camp Pendalouan counselor! I'm super pumped to be there, doing arts and crafts, hanging out on the lake, and just running around and being crazy. I go to Michigan State, where I'm studying History. I love playing guitar, playing video games, and running. I'm super psyched for this summer, and I know that it's going to be awesome!

March'in Right In!

2010-03-01T17:49:00.004-05:00

Wowza. March! It's a gorgeous day here at Pendalouan... sun is shining and if you listen very very closely- you may hear birds chirping! Hard to believe that spring will be here so soon, followed by another amazing summer!

This week we highlight two more staff members, these two smiling familiar faces are sure to put a bright moment in your day when they greet you each morning. I know both of them cannot wait to see you!

And with that, here they are!!

Hey Hey Everybody! My name is Tim and I am so excited to be apart of summer 2010! I've worked at Pendalouan as a counselor for four years, but this is my first summer as the Waterfront Director. When I'm not keeping everybody safe at the water, you can usually find me taking a hike or up at the ropes course. When I'm not at Pendalouan I'm a full time student of Elementary Education at Eastern Illinois University. I love meeting new people and learning new things. I can't wait to have yet another fantastic summer, and I can't wait to see you there!

Hi my name is Juice! This will be my third summer at Camp Pendalouan. I am so excited to be joining the incredible staff of summer 2010. This will be my second summer of being the H.O.T girl at camp (Health Officer Trained). I am currently attending CMU with a major in Physical Education and minor in School Health Education. My favorite things about camp are the s’mores on cook out nights, campfires, building lifelong friendships, Cook Out Day, and the weekly duals of capture the flag. I look forward to taking care of all your bumps, scrapes, bruises, cranial aches, and pains of any other sorts. Here’s to summer ’10!

ONE ONE ONE !!!!

2010-02-22T10:56:00.002-05:00

Listen up! Only 111 days until the entire Summer Staff starts our orientation together! We will be super busy the week before campers arrive training, getting to know one another and preparing to give everyone the best summer ever!

We woke up this morning to 3 more inches of fresh snow covering everything in camp. It's beautiful but we are having a bit of Spring Fever! We miss birds chirping and most importantly the sounds of summer... slashes off the dock... silly songs... the crackle of a campfire. But soon enough!

This week officially kicks off our Summer Staff 2010 introductions! I hope you are as excited as I am to see familiar and new faces. We have an awesome crew this year who cannot wait for summer.

So without further ado... your Summer 2010 YMCA Camp Pendalouan Staff!

Hi everyone! My name is Kalin and I am ecstatic to be returning to good ole' Pendy this summer as Program Director. Hard to believe it will be here in just a few short months! When I'm not constantly carrying a clipboard and running around camp I am studying journalism in Chicago! I'm from Michigan and Pendalouan feels like home to me each time I drive down Russell Rd. My favorite things about camp are; CookOut Day, swimming in the lake, all camp activities, sailing, laughing until my stomach hurts, s'mores, meeting new people and singing on the steps of Nikana Lodge. I cannot wait to see all of you this summer I can promise you it's going to be another great one! Here's to Summer 2010! I'll see you then. :)

A BIG PENDALOUAN HELLO from Northfield, Minnesota!! My name is Mark and I am the 2010 Teen Director. This summer will mark my 12th year at Camp Pendalouan! I was a camper for 7 years, and this will be my 5th year as a staff member. This summer I'll be once again working with the Teen Programs (CITs, LITs, and Teen Adventure). I am from Oak Park, Illinois which is right outside of Chicago. I go to college in Minnesota, which is all the way on the other side of Lake Michigan! My favorite things about Pendalouan are Kitchen Staff Parades, Sailing and canoeing on Big Blue Lake, hiking to Sleepy Hollow, and Capture the Flag. Campfires, smores, and singing to Mr. Moon also help me get through the school year. Summer 2010 will be like no other!

Shores of Ice!

2010-02-15T21:36:00.002-05:00

Greetings from the Shores of Big Blue Lake!

Or, to be slightly more accurate, Big White Chunk of Ice. It's quite white up here at Camp Pendalouan, and we're loving it. The groups coming in are enjoying the skiing and toboggan, and all winter activities in between.

As we get to the tail end of winter, though, it is easy to start thinking of summer. One of my personal favorite parts of summer days and summer camp is the much warmer waters of Big Blue. In the chilly days of February, then, I'll remember one of my favorite soaking wet camp days.

The morning started out like many mornings at camp: our whole cabin went down to the early 7:00 polar bear swim in the cold morning air. It was chilly and fun, and a great way to wake up. A little after breakfast, we went down to canoeing class and canoed in the lake, making sure to check out the wildlife in Turtle Bay. By Open Waterfront, it was hot, and everybody wanted to go swimming. We had enough time to wipe off the water just before lunch.
After a relaxing rest hour, though, it was back to the water. There was a Mud Hike and a water fight in Rendezvous Choice Time, and then some more boating and even sailing during afternoon Open Waterfront. An open fire cookout let us dry for a bit before a trip to the sand bar and some games on the Water Mat. By the evening all camp game, we were completely waterlogged, and dripping with smiles. Though we had never really dried off, it had been a great wet day.

Until the days are sunny, then,
Until the sailboats creek
Until the water is wet and warm,
Or at least until next week

- Counselor Will, guest hosting for Chief Pendalouan

And The Countdown Begins...

2010-01-13T09:49:00.005-05:00

Hello all -

A warm-up is on the way (mid-30s)and some of our beautiful snow is going to melt. Although Summer Camp is very much on our minds, we are not even remotely ready for winter to end! We have many school groups on their way out to camp to ski, toboggan and play broom-ball; weekend groups coming to enjoy hot chocolate by the warm fire; and Special Days coming for their Winter Camp!

What? You haven't heard about Special Days?!? It's this awesome camp for children who are living with cancer and their siblings. This winter will be the first time Special Days has camped with Pendalouan and we are super excited!!! I have heard great things about all things related to Special Days and am quite anxious to try deep-fried Oreos! Check out the Special Days website at http://www.specialdays.org/

So please, even if you don't like winter, say a prayer that we keep our snow for quite a bit longer!!

Suumer Camp, as mentioned before, is very much on our minds! I have a room full of arrows, canoe paddles, crafts items and more just waiting to be put to use. Staff is steadily being added to the Summer 2010 roster. Next week, I will begin to introduce them to you...so you'll just have to wait to see who will be filling our summer days with fun and laughter!!

For the record...the first day of summer camp is just 158 days away!!

-Chief Pendalouan

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-05T14:55:00.004-05:00

Hello Campers, Staff, Parents and Alumni -

Camp is absolutely beautiful right now!! It is covered by a blanket of snow at least 12 inches deep and there is more snow in the forecast. We are so lucky to be in such a winter wonderland!

Happy 2010! Do you make New Year's Resoultions? If so, I sincerely hope that one of them is to make sure you visit Pendalouan at least one time this year. So much is happening - East Moon Bathhouse is getting a facelift and promises to be amazing; staff - both old and new - are being put into place on the Summer Camp 2010 team; school groups and weekend rental groups will begin their treks to camp in just 2 weeks; and summer camp planning is in full-swing.

Make sure you stop back here to see what's happening!

Until next time -

Chief Pendalouan

Pendaloun Press Session2, 2009

2009-06-26T11:11:00.003-04:00

PENDALOUN PRESS

Session 2, 2009

50 ft. Squirrel vs. Chauncy
By Skylar

We recently found out that swimmer’s itch is caused by a fight between Chauncy and a 50 foot squirrel. Further resources say that Chauncy is sending his servants, the Schistosomes, to burrow into your bloodstream and to your brain, where they try to warn you about the battle. Unfortunately, all of the bugs die before they get to your brain. Fortunately, Chauncy is winning this epic battle, and sending the Schistosomes to warn us. Until next time, this is the Press.

Marmots: An Interview with Lori
By Noelle

Q: What do you know about Sleepy Hollow Marmots?

A: They are very vicious. I’ve never really seen one before, but people say that they have a long purple snout and long claws, and they are about four feet tall. They argue a lot with each other, and they throw each other against trees. Whoever knocks a tree down when the marmot is thrown wins the fight.

Q: About how fat are they?

A: Very big but, I don’t have an exact size of them.

The Four Core Values
By Maddie

Caring, Responsibility, Respect, and Honesty. These are the four core values. Don’t worry, I didn’t forget the white band, I saved it for last. Because it’s the most important one. With that band comes a saying. “I’m third.” “I’m third” means God first, others second, and I’m third. Now, here are the colors of the bands:
Honesty – Blue.
Caring – Red, like your heart.
Responsibility – Green
Respect – Yellow
Here is one way to earn the red band: If someone falls you could ask them if they are okay and help them up.
Here is one way to earn the green band: If there is garbage on the ground you could pick it up (you are being responsible for the earth)
Here is one way to earn the yellow band: Listening to a person and looking at them when they are talking.
Here is one way to earn the blue band: When someone asks you a question you tell the truth.
Now you’ve learned about all the bands.

Chauncy
By Kelly

Is Chauncy real? Is Chauncy really afraid or red? What is Chauncy’s favorite food? Will Chauncy really attack people? Does Chauncy live at the other side of the lake? Mark said he saw a red/yellow tentacle. A CIT said that she saw Chauncy. Should I believe her?
The Disappearance of the Purple Band
By Mason

This year, there aren’t any purple bands to be given out at all! If you know anything, contact your local camp news here at Camp Pendalouan. The purple band symbolizes counselors choice.

Camp
By Austin

I was at my house as bored as ever and then my mom said it’s time for camp. I was so scared I started having goosebumps I was afraid that I was not going to make any friends but wait I remembered that to be a good friend is to be caring, respectful, honest, and responsible anyway, I was almost done packing up. I put all my stuff in the bag well actually my mom packed my stuff but I did some you know. Anyway I was on my way to camp I was so scared (oh and just to tell you my sister is coming). Ok here we were at camp and I and my mom got to the cabin and unpacked. My two counselors are Tim and Jayme they are cool guys. Tim is tall and has brown eyes and brown hair. Jayme has brown eyes and black hair. I said hi to them and went to my sister’s cabin. When I went to my sister’s cabin, my mom and dad said bye to me and my sister. When my mom and dad left I went back to my cabin to talk to my cabin mates and Tim and Jayme. When I was done talking to Tim and Jayme and my cabin friends I went down to this pond to find frogs and turtles. I caught a soft shell turtle and showed my sister.

Anime with a CIT and a camper
By Anastacia

1. Is Yuki a vampire? No. Zero is a vampire but only purebloopds like Kaname-sama can either kill them ore make them a regular vampire.
2. Does Kaname hate Zero? He does but he also needs his help to protect Yuki from vampires.
3. How old did Naruto start? The first Naruto that was made was from 1997.
4. Are Sasuke and Naruto friends or enemies? Sasuke and Naruto are friends but Sasuke needs to get the sharringan to defeat his brother Hachi.
5. Who created Naruto and Chobits? Naruto was created by Masashi Kishimoto and Chobits creator was Natsuki Tayaya.

Sleepy Hollow: an Interview with Matthew
By Cian

Q: What is the Devil trampoline?
A: It shows who’s good of heart. The evil fall through. Once, a child lost his shoe. The counselor saved him.

Q: What happened in the Indian Battle?
A: Owasippe became blind with rage and fought the Potawottami.

Q: What about the cursed water?
A: You would be stricken with nightmares so horrible you would be scared to fall asleep if you touched it.

Q: Are you afraid of Sleepy Hollow?
A: No. I respect it so I have no fear of the spirits who dwell there.

Q: Is it cursed?
A: Not cursed. A hotspot of supernatural activity.

Q: If you sleep at Sleepy Hollow will you be attacked by ghosts?
A: If you’re respectful, there’s nothing to fear.

Fact or Myth
By Bridgette

1. Crickets can tell the temperature with their chirp. FACT
2. Raccoons wash their food.
MYTH
3. Snakes charm their prey.
MYTH. Some animals are spooked by snakes. But the snake doesn’t physically do anything to lure its prey.
4. Dogs talk with their tails. FACT
5. Porcupines shoot their quills.
MYTH
6. Bats are blind. MYTH
7. Camels store water in their humps. MYTH

Waterfront Questions
By Breanna

Is there a big current in the water? No it’s a small, slight current.

What is your favorite waterfront activity? My favorite activity is the fun-yak.

Have you ever seen Chauncy? I’ve never seen Chauncy I actually don’t believe in him.

What do you think is the easiest to use, fun-yak, canoe, or paddleboat? I think the easiest boat to use is the fun-yak.

An Interview with Nate
By Ethan

Q: What is the most exciting thing that ever happened out of all your years at Camp Pendalouan?
A: My T-bird year.

Q: Are you a vegetarian?
A: Yes.

Q: How many years have you been at Camp Pendalouan?
A: 8 years.

Q: What is your favorite activity at camp?
A: The water mat.

Q: Where do you live?
A: Whitehall

Q: Do you have any animals?
A: Two dogs, Chester and Max.

Q: How tall are you?
A: 5’ 2’’

Q: How old are you?
A: No comment.

Special Day
By Cassidy

Everybody was marvelously excited for the adventurous day of fun! This Wednesday you will participate in the one and only funday!!! Everyone was jumping up and down for funday on Wednesday when you get to play games, be yourself, and have a good time. Everyone has to do something fun and if they don’t they don’t know what Camp Pendalouan is!! Everyone should know that you should have a good time on funday. Its like a given. Everyone was excited for Wednesday because it was Special Day. Everyone at camp got to sleep in and have a ball all day!!! They were all happy, well rested, and full of cowboys and Indians as we played the game “find the princess”.
Name Poetry

Kind
Enjoying
Lady-like
Loving
Young

Michigan
Awesome
Spiders
On video games
Not uncool

Breanna
Responsible
Enthusiastic
Animals
Nice
New
Awesome

Nice
Outgoing
Energetic
Likeable
Loco
Entertainable

Creative
Interesting
Active
New

Energetic
Thankful
Helpful
Amazing
Nice

Name Poetry

Silly
Kool-Aid Liker
Yakker
Loves Be
Addicted to computers
Remarkable

Magnificent
Awesomely awesome
Diligent
Doesn’t like Green Beans
Intelligent
Excited for my activities and
camp

"Are We There Yet?!"

2009-05-19T15:48:00.003-04:00

The answer is no. But we're close!

June is just around the corner and June means CAMP! Hard to believe that we are coming upon the opening day of Summer 2k9!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful May. Finishing up school can be challenging, especially when we are all so excited for the summer. But study hard, stay organized, and before you know it you'll be making new friends, trying new things, and having the time of your life and Pendalouan this summer!

Horse Power! Girl Power?!

2009-04-23T16:52:00.001-04:00

Apologies, you know those weeks when you barely have time to think ahead more than a couple hours? Yes- it's one of those.

Today brings some Support Staff Ladies... Our wonderful new addition at the Barn, Riding director- and the Summer 2009 Program Director, both these ladies are counting down the days until summer and cannot wait to see you there!

Have a wonderful end to your week.

Howdy Everyone! My name is Jill and this will be my first summer at Camp Pendalouan! I have spent many summers as a camper but have never had the oppuntunity to be on the other side of camp! I am the Riding Director this summer so most of my time at camp will be spent at the barn with the kids and horses! I'm so excited to share my love of riding with the campers. Hopefully we'll have some fun learning about the horses, how to care for them, and have fun riding as well! My other favorite camp activies are the ropes course and all camp games like color wars and capture the flag (pretty much any game that lets me run around and doesn't involve a ball)! I am a graduate of Albion College but will be attending MSU this fall to pursue my master's degree. Summer is right around the corner and I can't wait to meet you all. See you at the Barn!

Hail Pendalouan! Hi everyone, I'm Kalin... this summer I'll be returning to my favorite place on Big Blue Lake as the Program Director and I am so excited! Currently I am studying abroad in Italy, and my home school is in Chicago. I cannot wait to return 'home' to Pendalouan and another amazing summer. My favorite parts about camp are; laughing with my campers, cook outs, color war, learning how to sail, waterfront, campfires, and of course being outside all day. Summer isn't that far- so I will see you all soon! You can't miss me, I'll be the one searching around for my missing sunglasses! See you then!

Two Months!

2009-04-14T08:28:00.002-04:00

Two very short month's from tomorrow is the first day of session one! Ah, time is flying- and we are busier than ever at camp. Everyone is gearing up for the busiest Outdoor Education season [Spring] and also getting ready for the Summer!

I hope your holiday weekend was relaxing and found you with people you care about having a great time.

Today was meet two more staff members... Have a great week!

Hey everybody!! My name is Elizabeth and this is my seventh year at camp, but second as a counselor. I am so excited for the summer of 2009!! I love arts and crafts, canoeing, swimming, hanging out with everyone on the deck of the lodge, and the Trading Post, and can’t wait to sit by the campfire and welcome everyone back to camp. Last summer was so much fun but I think this summer we can make it better… and we will! I can’t wait to see everybody!!

Howdy! My name is Jon, and this will be my second year working at beautiful Camp Pendalouan! I just graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a degree in Political Science, and I have plans to join this Peace Corps (if everything works out ideally!) I love being outside, having fun, loud music, and meeting people, and I am so, so, so, so excited to be back at Camp this summer! I also have many hobbies and favorite colors.

Let's 'Spring' Into 'Summer!'

2009-04-04T15:40:00.002-04:00

Ahhhhh you hear that? Yes- the sounds of spring. Chirping birds, breezes through the trees, rain on the rooftops daily, so wonderful. If you listen closely, very very closely you can almost hear Summer in there, it's almost yelling "let me out! I'm ready!!"

This Saturday afternoon with the sun at my back brings me to introduce two returning staff members! They are both so excited to see you there, and so am I!

Ciao for now!!!

Hi! My name is Robyn. This will be my 13th year at camp. I am super excited to be coming back. You will usually find me down by the water, lifeguarding or just swimming in general. I love everything about camp. When I'm not at camp, I'm in school and telling everybody that I have the coolest job ever. My favorite camp game is chaos. I can't wait until the summer and hope to see you there!

Hello everyone! My name is Eric. After a great summer at Pendalouan last year (my first I might add) I am back for more. My favorite activities at camp include capture the flag, scatterball, mountain biking and songfest, as well as countless other things. When I am not at Camp, I am a student at Carleton College where I plan to major in Computer Science. My hobbies include diving, soccer, frisbee, and writing music. I can't wait to see you all at camp!

Donations! Staff! April??

2009-03-30T16:38:00.004-04:00

Okay... almost April. Whew! What a Monday... I'm exhausted- don't know about you! Hey- super exciting news!

Just this past week we were notified that YMCA Camp Pendalouan is againeligible for a dollar for dollar matching grant. It is used strictly forenhancing our summer program, enabling kids to have a solid life-changingtype of camp experience. Along with the Muskegon Y's club, this is thebackbone of our financial aid program and is what many appreciative familiesrely on.
Here's how it works:

Checks are made payable to CHILDREN FIRST and mailed or delivered to me atYMCA Camp Pendalouan, 1243 E Fruitvale Rd, Montague MI 49437

We process them and send to the Skillman Foundation c/o the Detroit FreePress

The foundation will double all donations until we reach our $20,0000 limit

Any amount is eligible for doubling, up to $1,500 per individual and/orbusiness

The timing window for this program is extremely limited, as all agencies aregoing for a limited number of dollars on a first come first served basis.

So why wouldn't you want to make a donation, especially if you know it willcount twice as much!

Wow! I'm so excited about this! I really hope we can all band together to make a difference.

All good things today- here are two more wonderful staff members! Both of these girls are familiar with Pendalouan and cannot wait to meet you. Have a fabulous week!

Hello everyone! My name is Dominique but I go by Dom or Domo. This will be my 10th year at camp, which will officially make me a double thunderbird which is very exciting! During the summer I can be found on top of the high ropes course standing (or playing!) making sure that everything is run smoothly and campers are having fun and staying safe. When I'm not playing on the ropes, I can usually be found down at the waterfront lifeguarding or teaching swimming lessons. My favorite game at camp definitely has to be capture the flag, although I never seem to find the flag. When I'm not at camp I attend Western Michigan University where I am studying criminal justice, gender/woman studies, and social work. I can not wait for this summer and I am so excited to give campers the best week(s) of their lives! Peace, Love and Pendalouan.

Hi! My name is Katie this is my 6th summer here at Camp Pendalouan and I'm so excited to be part of staff for my 3rd summer!! I love anything and everything to do with the water :) (canoeing,swimming,white river, watermat) And I can't wait to meet all of you!! When I'm not at camp I attend Miami University in Ohio, and swim! Also, I love Cake, Competing, Color wars, and Carrots. I'll see you at camp!

"Wonderful Returning, and International Staff!"

2009-03-23T18:21:00.004-04:00

I am really craving summer right now; the wind in the trees, some open water front action, a little trading post pit stop, some capture the flag, a cookout over an open fire, meeting new friends, singing songs, laughing so hard my stomach hurts. But hey, cheer up! WE ARE ALMOST THERE!

The staff is so close to being complete I can taste it!

Until then, I leave you with two more staffies! [hey, I kind of like that new slang. "Staffie" mmm... I'll keep it in mind.] Ciao!!!

Hey Guys! My name is Carol and this will officially be my 5th year at camp. You might not be able to see me right away but you will be able to smell me becuase this summer I will be at the barn once again. SO ropers & wranglers be ready for some crazy fun at the barn. Otherwise you will get to know me at meals and for camp activity fun. I of course love horses and being crazy things that make me smile are goofing off with my family, chocolate, and the colors orange and green. When I'm not super busy becoming a nurse at Grand Valley, I'm either making tacos, or outside doing almost anything. I can't wait to meet all you amazing kids, and make a ton more memories to add to all the others!

Hi everybody my name is David and this will be my first summer at Camp Pendalouan. I am from Colombia; it is a beautiful country where the people are happy and live quietly. I am studying business administration this is my second year.I am very excited about this experience I can’t wait to be there. I love almost all kind of sports, so I know I will enjoy this summer. In my free time I play soccer with my university’s team also I enjoy climbing. My brother (Manuel) has been at camp two times, during 2006 and 2007, he has told me great things about it, I hope to be there as soon as possible, see you there!

Let The Staff Shine!

2009-03-16T15:45:00.004-04:00

Okay...Yes, I know the words are "let the sun shine" but I thought I would switch it up on this sunny day! I hope your Monday is wonderful! [as wonderful as they can be] but this should brighten your day- more wonderful staff. Both of these girls are new to staff this year and are sure to be amazing!

See ya later!

Hi Friends! My name is Marissa, and I can't wait to see all of your smiling faces at camp! This will be my first summer at Pendalouan, and I am so excited for all of the new and exciting adventures this summer will bring. I'm looking forward to everything, but especially canoeing, nature walks, the high ropes course, and making new friends of course! When I'm not daydreaming about summer, I like to play tennis, ride horses, practice the violin, and try to teach myself guitar. I also love hiking and being outside. The sky fascinates me; I never pass up a chance to go star-gazing or make shapes with clouds. I love to be around people who make me smile, and I love to laugh...so let's fill this summer with lots of laughter and new challenges. I know it will be absolutely fantastic!

Hi everyone! my name is Katie. I have been going to camp for 6 years. This is my first year on staff. I love camp so much, I constantly think about it during the school year. My favorite camp activities are sports and games, archery, and drama. I am a cowgirl, so I love to be up at the horse barn whenever I get a chance. My favorite camp game is 4-way CTF ! (capture the flag) or a good counselor hunt is always fun. When I am not at camp , I am in school , or enjoying the outdoors and exploring the woods or horseback riding. I cannot wait for this summer , and hope to see you all there!

Sunny Staff

2009-03-12T06:24:00.004-04:00

I feel that maybe if we name a blog post after the sun, it will come out and stay out! Spring where are you? If you read this- arrive ASAP, this winter was cold and very very long. How are you? Hope your Thursday is leading into an exciting weekend.

You know why I'm here, so let's not dodge around the topic, two more staff members! It's crazy that in mid-March we already have a huge crew of 30 ready and super excited to have you! See you later!

Hi! I’m Leah! This will be my first year as staff, but my 7th year at Pendalouan. After two years away from camp, I am super excited to be coming back! My favorite things about camp include being wild and crazy, singing nonsense songs, and playing games, enjoying the great outdoors, and sitting by a roaring campfire with oodles of great friends! I cannot wait to return to camp to start making incredible new memories! Summer 2009 is going to be fabulous!!!

Hey Everybody! My name is Tim and I'm so excited for this summer! This will be my fourth summer working at Pendalouan. My favorite things to do at camp are swimming, mountain biking, archery, and I can always go for a good game of capture the flag. When I'm not at camp I'm in school studying to be a teacher and enjoy enjoy swimming with my free time. I know that we are going to make summer '09 the best summer we've ever had so make those summer plans early and be sure to put a week (or two!) aside for all your friends at Pendalouan! See you there!

'March' On Towards June!

2009-03-06T05:11:00.004-05:00

Where does the time go? I feel like just the other day I was figuring out what to be for Halloween and now it’s MARCH?! You know what March means… Spring! Well, let’s hope- it’s been a tease lately, but hopefully the sunshine and nice temperatures will stay awhile.

Things are busy [when are they not?] at camp, the newly renovated and amazingly beautiful Crandall cabin [aka Apache] is up and running! Our first ever inhabitants of the newly redone cabin stayed in there within the past week and loved it! This is sure to be a great addition to Pendalouan forever, make sure to check the website for the final pictures!

Now let us “March on” shall we? Two more staff members! I’ll leave you to finding out more about them… have a wonderful week!

Hi, I'm Ben! This will be my 6th summer at Camp Pendalouan, and I cannot wait! I live in Oak Park, Illinois and there is still snow on the ground here! It's hard to believe that summer is almost here! My favorite things to do at camp are: swimming, sailing, and climbing/belaying on the rock wall/high-ropes course! In my free time I like to listen to music, play guitar, and take pictures! I'm so excited for campfires, 'shmallow roasting, and of course, some intense S.B.F. (stupid but fun) action! I hope everyone is as pumped as I am for Camp Pendalouan this summer! Woo!

Hey Everyone! My name is Dayna, and this will be my first summer at Pendalouan. I come from the Metro-Detroit area, and will be attending Ferris State in the fall to study Nursing. A few of my favorite things include: anything yellow, fire flies, being crafty, taking car rides, Arizona Ice Teas, and of course anything that involves laughter + friends! I’m totally stoked and counting down the days till I get to meet everyone and have fun! =)

Staff Staff and More Amazing Staff!

2009-02-23T17:12:00.004-05:00

I'll keep this short because I know why you're really here! More staff! They are all ecstatic for summer and cannot wait to see you there! Have a great week!

Hey my name is Elizabeth, but most people just call me Liz =) This is my first year of being a staff member, but I've been a camper for 10 years, so I know there is no better way to spend a summer than at camp. I'm really excited for this summer, and all the new opportunities and adventures it holds. I also can't wait for the delicious juice bars at camp, those are definetly my favorite. But what I'm looking forward to the most is spending time with all the campers, and making all of their camp memories as memorable as mine were. This summer is going to be AMAZING!

Hi! My name is Brittani, and I’ve gone to summer camp at Camp Pendalouan most of my life. This will be my 11th summer there. Camp is a great place to make great, long-lasting friendships and to really challenge yourself. My favorite thing about camp is the opportunity to try things I may not try otherwise. This summer, I am most excited to see which campers return to camp and all the new arrivals. It’s gonna be a blast!

T Shirt Winner!

2009-02-20T15:57:00.002-05:00

Whew. What a busy week! But hey, it’s Friday that’s worth something isn’t it?! I come bearing wonderful news, a winning t-shirt entry! The honor goes to a Mark! With a close runner up with yet another counselor hailing from the great state of Illinois, Tim! Both of them had awesome ideas and Mark’s design will proudly be displayed on the staff t-shirt for Summer 2009 and go down in history with the t-shirts from summers past. Hopefully some of you will be able to get a similar one at the trading post when you visit us this year!

Well, hopefully none of you got excited because winter is back this week and it looks like our winter wonderland look at Pendalouan will soon be returning. Things are keeping up to pace around here with Outdoor Education groups, weekend groups, and overall “campiness!”
Have a great weekend and we will see you next week!

Staff New And Old!

2009-02-15T11:38:00.004-05:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, Sundays are great for recharging batteries and revving up for the week. Things are good ole’ Pendy are wonderful, we are busy as bees finalizing all the Summer staff spots, along with preparing some great new things for activities this Summer. It is sure to be another epic Summer on the shores of Big Blue Lake.

This week we introduce two staff members, one is a fresh face on Staff this summer, the other is a Pendalouan Alum. Egan and Sarah! They both are really excited for June and cannot wait to see you.

Without further delay… here they are!

Hi I'm Egan! This will be my first summer at Camp, and I am quite excited! A few random facts about me? I really enjoy time spent with my family and best pals. I love to laugh, and I love people that make me laugh. I snowboard whenever I can, and I will never pass up a handful of Nilla Wafers. I love to paint, and I like to pretend I have skill when it comes to playing the piano. I love being outside and I try to appreciate the little things in life. I love "remember whens", and listening to kids' stories. I've been told I'm weird, funny, creative, and unique, but I'll let you be the judge :) I can't wait to meet everyone and start at Pendalouan in June!!!!

Hey my name is Sarah! This will be my third year at camp as staff and eleventh year at summer camp altogether. I'm so ready for camp to come, that I already have things packed up so I can start decorating the cabin. When I'm not at camp, I love to photograph crazy things and dance to fun music. I especially miss ‘Capture the Flag’, and I'm pumped to do it again this summer!

More Summer Staff!

2009-02-10T07:02:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone! Hope you had a wonderful week. This blog will focus on two more returning staff members, Dasha and Jory. We are really excited to have these two coming back for more Pendalouan fun this summer. Before they are introduced, just a reminder that you can register for Summer Camp on the homepage; http://www.pendalouan.org/ look under the “What’s New” section and click the Summer 2009 link! All the information you need can be found right here. Have a great week!

Hello, my name is Jory. This will be my third summer at Camp Pendalouan, and I can't wait for it to get underway. In fact I dream about it every night. I also often have paranoid dreams about koala bears taking over the earth, but I digress... My favorite camp activities include stupid but fun, and drama. I'm also a huge fan of four square, snack time, rest hour, and playing my guitar really loudly so that the sleepy hollow marmots stay away. Most weeks, you can find me chillaxing in Navajo, which I consider my home away from home. I'm also usually not far from Patrick, who I share a telepathic link with. When I'm not at good ole Pendy, I go to college to learn how to speak English really well and get mad at how cold it is in Michigan.

Hey! My name is Dasha and this will be my 3rd summer at Camp Pendalouan. I enjoy eating lots of ice cream and running, sometimes eating ice cream while I'm running. When I’m not at camp I go to college and study the environment. Things I love about camp (or what I like to call the 4 C's): capture the flag, cookies, campfire, and campers. I can't wait for summer '09!! It will be amazing!

Happy Ground Hog Day & More Great Staff!

2009-02-02T11:58:00.004-05:00

Man oh man...Puxatony Phil saw his shadow this morning, which means we are in for six more weeks of this chilly winter, but have no fear... summer will get here!

The renovations on the Crandall Cabin [Apache] are going great! Our target finish date is March 1st! The new ceiling, both on the deck and inside the cabin was just completed and look wonderful. This is sure to be a beautiful renovation and be an awesome new part of Summer 2009.

It's Monday which means exciting staff introductions! This week we have two returning staff members, Will and Juice...drum roll please...

Hey! My name is Will, and I can't wait to come back to camp this summer! I love swimming, archery, hiking, and a good game of Sock Wars. My favorite camp food is probably spaghetti, though the mac and cheese is also pretty delicious. This summer, I'm looking forward to canoeing down the White River as a cabin, and toasting some golden brown marshmallows. I can't wait to see you all there!

Hi my name is Juice! This will be my second summer at Camp Pendalouan. I am so excited to be joining the fantastic staff of summer 2009. This year my role will be a bit different, as I will be the new H.O.T girl at camp (Health Officer Trained). All this snow on the ground makes me wish summer would come sooner. My favorite things about camp are the s’mores on cook out nights, campfires, building lifelong friendships and the weekly duals of capture the flag. In my free time I enjoy training dolphins at sea world, running, kickboxing, and weightlifting. This coming summer I look forward to taking care of all your bumps, scrapes, bruises, cranial aches, and pains of any other sorts.
Here’s to summer ’09!

Hope everyone has an amazing week!

Outdoor Education Takes Over!

2009-01-30T10:55:00.002-05:00

Thank Goodness It's Friday everyone!

It has been a super busy time at camp, Outdoor Education is going great guns! We hosted over 60 people for a trip last week and over 180 this week. They have been enjoying the snow and ice with our toboggan run, cross-country skiis and broom ball. In addition, we are educating kids on how to build fires in survival, how to throw tomahawks in our Native American class and how tough it was to be a settler in pioneer times. Weekend groups have also enjoyed the facilities, outdoor opportunities and awesome camp food.

Exciting Summer Camp news, as of today we have 101 campers registered for Summer 2009!!! Keep those registrations coming our way, and as always you can get all the information you need at www.pendalouan.org

I hope you have a great weekend and had a wonderful January. Onward to February!!!

Staff Introductions & A T-Shirt Contest!

2009-01-26T12:53:00.004-05:00

Hi all! I hope this Monday finds you excited for the week ahead! Can you believe it's almost February? Neither can we, believe it or not things are busy as ever getting ready for this upcoming summer. This means that we have been working hard at assembling a great staff that are just as excited for camp as you are! Here on the blog each week we will take time to introduce some of these people to you. You will see familiar faces as well as some new people all of them have one common goal in mind, which is making camp an absolute blast for you!

But before I introduce two of our returning staff members I have some exciting news. This year we are enlisting YOUR HELP, yes that means you! We are holding a contest for people to enter their ideas about the Camp Pendalouan Staff T-Shirt for Summer 2009! So put on your creative thinking caps and send those t-shirt ideas our way. [The easiest way to submit your idea will be to click "post a comment" at the bottom of this blog] Or if this t-shirt design involves a drawing of your idea, send any ideas to the following address:

YMCA Camp Pendalouan

c/o Staff T-Shirt Design

1243 E. Fruitvale Rd.

Montague, MI 49437

Anyone and everyone is allowed to enter; you, your friends, parents, siblings, grandma, anyone who has an idea should send it our way! The winner will recieve a "blog bio" about how they came up with the idea and a little special prize if we see you at camp this summer! We are so excited about this, and cannot WAIT to see all your awesome ideas!

Alright, enough riff-ma-raff let's get to some introductions, the following two awesome people are excited to see you this summer... drum roll please.... [in your laps! ;)]

Hi, I’m Kate! This will be my 4th summer here at Camp Pendalouan, and I couldn’t be more excited. When I’m not at camp, I’m running, listening to music, teaching, or taking pictures. Some of my most favorite things about camp include chocolate chip cookies, meeting new people, everything water, and of course, all the games! I absolutely can’t wait to see old friends and make new ones. This summer will be one to remember!

[editor's note: Kate forgot to say that this will be her 2nd summer as the Waterfront Director and we could not be happier to see her smiling face and big aviator sunglasses everyday!]

Hey Hey Hey Campers! My name is Mark and this will be 11th year at Camp Pendalouan! I was a camper for 7 years, and this will be my 4rd year as a staff member. I am from Oak Park, Illinois which is right outside of Chicago. I go to college in Minnesota, which is all the way on the other side of Lake Michigan! I like Kitchen Staff Parades, Sailing and canoing on Big Blue Lake, hiking to Sleepy Hollow, and Capture the Flag. I live for campfires, smores, and singing to Mr. Moon. And I can't wait for SUMMER 2009!

Mark and Kate... two very familiar faces around good ole' Big Blue, and we hope that we see you too this summer!

Have a great week!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-20T05:48:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year everyone!

Your Pendalouan family hopes that you are having a great beginning to 2009. Things have been busy at camp as usual. Renovations on the Apache Cabin are still happening, and an overhaul of the camp office is in the works! New paint, new year!

It's hard to believe that Summer will be here before we know it! As cold as it may be right now wherever you are, in just six short months we hope to be seeing you on the shores of Big Blue Lake having a blast!

In the upcoming weeks we will begin to spotlight and introduce our Summer Staff for 2009, it is already shaping up to be an amazing crew of people excited and ready to give you the best time of your life. Be sure to stop in every week to see the bio's of Summer staff and get all the latest camp news!

You can always check on www.pendalouan.org for the latest in Summer 2009 dates and rates along with any information you may need.

Stay warm!

Pendalouan Press Session 6, 2008

2008-07-31T16:07:00.001-04:00

The Pendalouan Press
Session Six, 2008

An Interview with Mark
by Kayla
Q: Do you like art?
A: Yes
Q: Do you like books?
A: Oh my gosh, yes
Q: Do you like hats?
A: Yes, for sure
Q: Do you like BB guns?
A: No, not really

The Three Little Pigs
by Michael
Once upon a time there was three little pigs. The first pig built a house out of grass. The second little pig built a house out of sticks. The third little pig built a house out of bricks. One day the big bad wolf came by. And then he ate them all.

A Tale
by August
One day there was a girl named Juliet. And she met a boy named Romeo. They were in love. So so much. But no one knew about it. So they ran away. And they came back because they were scared.

An Interview with Jessa
by Sydney
Q: How do you like Camp Pendalouan?
A: I love Camp Pendalouan!
Q: Do you like being a nurse?
A: Definitely
Q: Why do you like this job?
A: Free band-aids
Q: Have you ever wished you had a different job?
A: Yes and No. I really like being a counselor the last two years, but I enjoy this as well.
Q: What is the hardest part about being the health officer?
A: Waiting for somebody to get hurt.
Q: Have you ever given a shot to someone?
A: Yes, but it wasn’t hard.

Buggin’ Out with Tony
by Tony
Gnats are drinking your sweat. There are so few gnats because of the heat. So many gnats are annoying. I haven’t seen many bus hit the mark to bite. There are more at home than here. Later, I am seeing more gnats than usual. Gnats are everywhere. To many make it now. The spiders are not doing their job. Care for the spiders. Except the black widows, kill those.

A Discussion about Chauncy
by Egypt
Is there really a squid in the water? Some people say no; some people say yes; everyone has a different story. Some people say he was born here; some people say there was a plane crash, and in the plane, it was filled with seawater and seawater animals. Chauncy is afraid of the color red. It’s all in whether you believe or not.

Two Interviews
By Darrius
Tori thinks Stupid but Fun is the best activity. His opinion of the camp store is he thinks its great for after rest hour chocolate. He says that scatterball is the far most best sport at camp. Outside of camp, Tori reads and plays guitar. Tori is from the state of Michigan.
Nate’s favorite part of camp is closing campfire. He thinks grandpa should be working there. Nate believes that scatterball is “amazing”. Outside of camp, Nate goes to concerts. Nate is born in South Carolina.

Press Barons: Will and Bert

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-19T08:44:00.000-05:00

Today is the day of the last big group for the year here at Pendalouan. After this and some camp clean-up, we will be saying goodbye to our Instructor staff for a while. It has been a busy month at camp, organizing school groups, preparing brochures, and finishing the new cabin.

Staff have been busy at school, as well. Two junior counselors from last summer have been picked as students of the month by their local newspapers. They are Katie Spoelman from Grand Haven High School, and Sarah Anderson from Muskegon Catholic Central.

Our Instructor staff are heading on separate paths. Marie will be moving to Texas to participate in a teacher certification program. Heidi will be heading to her hometown near Coldwater to work as a barista and substitute teach a bit. Kelly hopes to move to California and have adventures there. Matthew is moving to Oklahoma in hopes of starting graduate school - he will be back for summer camp. Good luck to all our staff!

Well, the cold air is upon us. Boating is closed up, the Ski Haus is set up, and there always seems to be a fire in the lodge fireplace. That means Winter is on the way. Which means Winter Camp is just around the corner. It will be December 21-22nd. Give us a call to register, many summer staff will be volunteering for this awesome event.

Halloween Fast Approaches

2007-10-24T14:56:00.000-04:00

Camp has been busy as can be lately. Last week much time was spent finishing the bathrooms in the log cabins. It has been a large group effort from the staff.

This week we have had groups from Whitehall's Ealy Elementary, Mona Shores High School, and Dimondale Elementary near Lansing. Friday we welcome Twin Lake. With all these schools, it comes as no surprise that we have seen a few summer campers come our way. They have been very excited to see camp improvements.

Halloween Camp is on Friday. We have almost 80 kids signed up as of right now. It will be a fun-filled evening. We will eat dinner and then have a campfire. After that, the campers will rotate through a Haunted area, a trick or treat hayride, and a carnival in the lodge. Saturday will bring lots of games and typical camp activities.

Many summer staff will be coming to help out; not only from 2007, but 2006 and 2005 as well!

It is crisp fall weather outside right now, so I will be getting out there to have some fun!

The Olsen Cabin -aka- Gogebic (Go Gee Bik)

2007-10-17T08:04:00.000-04:00

The past few weeks have been spent in fierce activity to get the new cabin and Kiowa finished. The bathroom in Kiowa is ready for use, and Gogebic's is not far behind. The staff have learned an mastered the power of a wetsaw and a few of us are now well-schooled in the installation of insulation.

In addition to cabin fun, we are busy planning for Halloween Camp and making sure all our school groups have a swell time. Halloween Camp is filling fast, but there is still room to come. It will be a not-so-scary time.

Matt in China

2007-10-03T10:55:00.000-04:00

As promised, here are pictures Matt S has sent us from his trip to China!

October

2007-10-02T14:13:00.000-04:00

Goodness, it has been ages since the Blog has been updated. We have been hard at work with various school groups. Lots of high ropes, Gold Rush, and various outdoor games. All the kids have been having a great time and have really connected with the outdoors by being here.

Some of you may notice the new author of the blog - Chief Pendalouan! In order to "tweak" the blog a little, we have created a new account. Lots of technical details. The point is that now that camp has a "camp" account, we will be able to create a few new blogs for staff and the Camp Newspaper.

In the News: Summer staff keep visiting camp - they love it so! We have seen many counselors back to visit, including Kate, Dom, Jory and Matt. Speaking of Matts, Matt Sheick (One of our CIT Directors) recently visited China. He tells us he had an awesome time and even sent some pictures. Later this week, I'll be posting these to the blog so everyone can see them.

Don't forget that Halloween Camp is just around the corner. Come and see old friends at the overnight. Counselors will be back from summer camp dressed as ghosts and goblins, as will campers we love to see. I hope you can all come by and see the spooky camp setup.

OE Begins!

2007-09-02T14:26:00.000-04:00

Time passes. It has been almost a month since summer camp has ended. All of our counselors and campers are back to school or travelling on in life, and camp has been empty the past few weeks.

Of course, with the end of summer comes the beginning of our Outdoor Education Season. This week we welcome our first school group of the season: Grand Rapids Montessori. We are very excited to welcome them here - especially with our new OE staff!

Later this week, I will introduce you to Kelly, Heidi, Emilie and Marie, our new staff.

Until then, come visit at camp. We'd love to see you!

Pendalouan Press Sesson Six

2007-08-06T10:25:00.001-04:00

The second to last issue of the Pendalouan Press 2007! We are in our last week of summer camp. It is a sad time, but counselors are working hard to make sure all the campers have as good a time as those campers from session one. This weekend is, of course, Father Son Camp. A very old Pendalouan Tradition, we will be welcoming many older and new generations of families for the weekend.

Here is the Pendalouan Press, featuring a few scary stories written by our campers.

The Haunted Lake By Harley Tyler

The haunted lake was black, dark, and bodies were floating. You could hear screams from people who died and staff were flying through the air. If you went in the lake and got out you would disappear.

Haunted House By August Lee

One family thought that they had a portal to the underworld in their basement. They had to call a ghost hunter to get it away. Then they went to sleep in the living room and the mattress went up and down like a heat beat and breathing. Then it was gone.

Popcorn Flood By August Lee

One day at school the popcorn machine broke and popcorn went crazy. So the principal tried to fix it but he could not fix it. The children swam in the popcorn. The one kid had some ideas. His first idea was to get a bag and scoop some up and eat it and call mechanic.

A Dog at Camp By August Lee

Name: Kushi
Who does it belong to? Bruce and his family
Girl or Boy: Girl
Does she roll in the sand? Yes
Does she chase sticks? Yes
Does she like to swim? Yes
Where does she live? With Bruce and his family
Who are her mom and dad? Bruce and Margaret

Interview to a camper: By Emily Litynski

Name: Sarah
Favorite thing to do at camp: Swim
Age: 11
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Sport: Swimming
Favorite Color: Blue
Cabin Name: Ottawa
Your Counselors: Ali and Dom
How many years have you been at camp: 1
Your Birthday: February 20
Favorite food at camp: Tater Tots

Interview of CIT By Emily Litynski

Name: E.T.
Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite sport: Ultimate Frisbee
Favorite Activity at Camp: Singing Songs
Favorite Cabin Name: Kiowa
Your Cabin Name: Blackfoot
Best Friend at Camp: Bert
Favorite Camp song: Humpty Dumpty

The Name of the Ghost By Emily Litynski

On February 8, 1999, a ghost appeared in front of Robyn. Robyn was so scared. She ran back to her cabin as fast as she could with her buddy. Last year on my birthday February 8, she came to me. I wasn’t scared. Nobody knows his name.

Interview of Dasha By Emily Litynski and Christina Matticks

Where are you from? Born in Russia
How long have you been at camp? 1st year
What is your favorite part about camp? Hanging with kids
What is your favorite camp song? Tarzan
Why did you come to camp? Wanted to have fun this summer
What is your favorite food at camp? Yogurt and granola
What is your favorite camp activity? Water mat and Capture the Flag

The Ghost of Ottawa Cabin By Katie Slajus

One day Katie, Ryann, and Sarah walked into Ottawa cabin to change out of their swimsuits. Their friends Anna and Cassidy were right behind them. They were changing when all of a sudden the fan turned on, they wondered what happened and then Ryann turned it off. A couple minutes later the doorknob rattled like someone was going to come in. Katie looked out the window and saw no one. That night Katie went to sleep with her window closed and Ryann went to sleep with her window open. The next morning Katie window was open and Ryann was closed. It was then they thought of the answer Ottawa Indians haunted their cabin. So if you’re ever in Ottawa be careful. They might haunt you too.

Outstanding
The best
Totally sweet
Awesome
Way cool
A great cabin

Interview By Katie Slajus

Name: Bert
Favorite food at camp: Waffles with PB and Cinnamon Sugar
Birthday: January 6
Cabin: Chippewa
Favorite Activity: Climbing Wall
Favorite Animal: Eagle
Camp Candy: Twix
Favorite Camp Song: Blowing in the wind
How many years have you been at camp: 5
Favorite Color: Red

Horoscopes

Leo- never expect a lot
Lucky Day- 2, 14
Color- Turquoise

Virgo- Listen to your friends advice. Stay away form haircuts. Keep wishing on stars because your wish will come true.
Lucky Days- 1, 22
Color- Purple

Libra- Chill out! Take a shower
Lucky Days- 2, 14, 26
Color- Royal Blue

Scorpio- you will get a letter from an old friend
Lucky days- 11, 20
Color- Dark Green

Sagittarius- stay away from climbing trees
Lucky Days- 19, 23
Color- green

Capricorn- you will be lucky
Lucky days- 1, 13
Color- Sky Blue

Aquarius- you will miss your family
Lucky Days- 21, 23, 31
Color- Yellow

Pisces- you will go on a long vacation
Lucky Days-4, 17
Color- Lime green

Aries- you will make unexpected friends
Lucky Days-7, 30
Color- Lavender

Taurus- you will have good luck in the next week
Lucky Day- 8, 14
Color- Hot pink

Gemini- you will meet a new friend
Lucky Days- 6, 10
Color- Baby Blue

Cancer- you will make a lot of friends
Lucky Days- 14, 16
Color- Teal

Poems by Claire Cebelak

Sticky. Very Icy
A weird X-ray is shown to Dr. Tina
You have a yucky sickness

Clear skies are low today.
A cake is being iced and frosted
Rain begins to elope together

Worm, worm
Likes to squirm and eat
Worms like to wiggle and sleep
Worm doesn’t die of food
Worm you love to squirm

Weird Wonderful smells
Elope and they Icy
And they ring with Desire

Hair is on your head
Ears are on the sides
Ears help you hear
Loud is loud and you are you
The sun is hot

Pendalouan Press - Session Five

2007-07-27T10:57:00.000-04:00

Session Five has been amazing! We saw the return of Synchronized Swimming, an amazing display of drama, Jory and Or's Blues Band, and many children smiling.

The Summer has gone by very quickly. There are only two sessions left.

The Boat Trip

One day, two kids were walking along at Camp Pendalouan. They had their swim suits on, as they were ready to go boating. Up ahead, the kids saw an island, which was called Lonely Island. The two kids wanted to go to the island and explore it. The campers knew the rules not to go over to Lonely Island unless a Counsler was with them, but they snuck over anyways in a boating area. They knew where everything was as it was their 3rd summer at Camp, So they took out a canoe and left.

The campers paddled along to the middle of the lake when big waves started to sieze them! The canoe started to sway and finally tipped over, sending the campers in the canoe into the freezing water. All of sudden, Chauncy the sea monster that lived in Blue Lake attacked! The campers struggled and struggled, managing to get back into their canoe and go back to shore safely. The campers again never snuck out ever again and all lived happily ever after.

The End.

By Abby Olsen

What do you think the 4 core values mean?

Caring : I think that caring means to be a good friend, because if friends are not caring, how are they even friends?

Honesty : I think honesty is a way of showing he truth to like your friend or someone you care about.

Respect : I think respect means to respect other people and their things, By asking to use their stuff and not using it without asking.

Responsebility : I believe that to be responsebility, is to pick up trash and take care of your things and the earth around you.

By

Aby Olsen
Morgen Dennison
Katie Blain

Interview with Synchro
Q : What do you do in Synchro?

A : You dance in the water, You do stuff that you might not be able to do on land.

Q ; Why is Synchro important to you?

A : It is important to us because it is a way to express yourself in the water!

Q : How is Synchro good for your body?

A : It is good for you because it gets the blood flowing and helps strengthen muscles.

By
Morgan Dennison
Katie Blain
Abby Olsen

Horoscopes

Aquarius : Your day looks good but beware of the food you eat!

Aries : Your day will start with a bump but it will get better.

Cancer : Your morning will be good..but watch out! The socks may turn on you!

Capricorn : If you think of chicken nuggets...The day seems to shine more.

Gemini : Mash potatos may be the key to making good friends.

Taruas : Stay away from muffins! They will plot against you!

Leo : The color yellow shines bad luck on you,You may be surprised what they do.

Libra ; Beware of PINK bunnies, for good luck will not be what they bring.

Piesis : Basketballs that are yellow, Have planned to give you a horribile scare!

Scoripo :Should you cross a salt n' pepper shaker, The day will be very bad.

Staggigius : Purple butterflies have become your friends, yet tree stumps will cause you grief.

Virgo : The land is your friend but the water is your enemy.

By

Katie Blain.

Session Four

2007-07-20T11:14:00.000-04:00

Session Four has been quite fun. Smaller than some sessions, but still very exciting. We had a game of pirates vs. ninjas, played capture the flag, and award our first ever Apprentice Archer award.

Here is the Pendalouan Press.

" Have YOU seen the monster ? "
By Skylar Nugent
Apparently a 50-foot giant known as the squirrel can transform into a marmot. If you see the monster while hiking to sleepy hollow, finish the hike as fast as you can and run into Chippewa cabin knock on the door and ask for Skylar Nugent if you are a girl. For boys, finish the hike and get back to your cabin as fast as you can. The giant squirrel has been here since Chief Pendalouan died. So keep a keen eye out for the squirrel.

"Interviews about you"
By Harley Tyler

Emily
Her favorite thing is canoeing. Her activities are canoeing and archery. Her favorite activity is canoeing. She is in Blackfoot cabin. Her counselors are Jessa and Katie. She has not written to her parents yet.

Kim
She is in Blackfoot cabin. She did not write any letters to her parents ye. She is a roper and wrangler, which is horeseback riding. Her favorite person is her sister Harley. She takes showers every morning.

Hannah
She lives in tent villiage. She is a LIT ( leaders in training ). She likes to swim. She made five new friends. She has never slept in a cabin. She got all the core bands.

Viki
She lives in tent villiage. She has made five new friends. She loves arts and crafts. She has slept in a cabin for seven years. She gets bands but hasnt gotten any yet.

" The Four B's "
By Molly Tyler

"Honesty, Responsibility, Respect, Caring". The banner "honesty" is blue as in "true blue". "Responsibility" is green like the earth. "Respect" is yellow as in the golden rule. "Caring" is red like in the heart. These four banners are in everyone and when they feel like it, it can be shown. The banners are in the lodge.